Talbot Posts Two Podiums as Bobcat Skiers Open Season at Denver Invitational

Sunday, January 10

Aspen, CO

TBA

Montana State University

Women's Giant Slalom (2)

Nellie Talbot in giant slalom at last year's NCAA Skiing Championships.

Talbot Posts Two Podiums as Bobcat Skiers Open Season at Denver Invitational

1/10/2021 4:35:00 PM | Women's Skiing, Skiing

Montana State sophomore Nellie Talbot posted a pair of podium finishes in giant slalom as the Bobcats opened its 2021 ski season at the Denver Invitational at Aspen Highlands on Sunday afternoon.

By: Tom Schulz

Montana State sophomore Nellie Talbot posted a pair of podium finishes in giant slalom as the Bobcats opened its 2021 ski season at the Denver Invitational at Aspen Highlands on Sunday afternoon.

Talbot, who concluded last season with a runner-up finish in giant slalom at the NCAA Championships, picked up where she left off finishing second in the first of two giant slalom events. The Vail, Colo., product placed third in the second giant slalom race.

Due to COVID-19, the Rocky Mountain Collegiate Ski Association changed its normal race procedure of alternating men's and women's races, with just two women's races (four runs). The men's GS events will take place on Monday to close out the alpine portion of the DU Invitational.

Talbot posted a two-run total of 2:15.99 in her first race, including a 1:06.82 clocking in the opening run which was the third fastest down the hill.

Also contributing for MSU were Tegan Wold, 16^th, 2:20.85, and Brynne Hitchcock, 2:21.55, Hanna Nyquist did not finish her second run.

Westminster's Julie Toiviainen won the race in 2:14.40.

"It was a perfect day for racing in Aspen, sunny and cold with good snow," said MSU head coach Kevin Francis. "The athletes were excited to be back competing as a team."

Montana State last skied 304 day ago, when the NCAA Championships in Bozeman were halted on March 12 due to the pandemic. "In the first race, the first race back in ten months for many of them, there were some nerves, but good skiing overall," Francis stated.

Talbot placed third in the second GS event with a two-run clocking of 2:14.81, an improvement from the opening race. She placed behind Toiviainen and Utah's Madison Hoffman.

Hitchcock garnered 22 points for the Bobcats with a ninth-place finish in 2:17.71, while Wold was tenth in 2:17.85. Nyquist placed 18^th in 2:25.68.

As a team, the Bobcats sit in second place with 148 points. Westminster is atop the standings with 200 points, followed by MSU, Utah 129, Alaska Anchorage 113, Colorado 112, Colorado Mountain 80, and Denver 20.