Utah Ski Squad To Compete In Denver Invitational

Jan. 24, 2000

This Week... The Utes move to the halfway point of their regular season this week as they travel to Winter Park, Colo. to compete in the Denver Invitational. So far, Utah has finished second in both of this year's Utah and Montana State Invitationals.

Host University of Denver
Location YMCA of the Rockies, Winter Park, Colorado
Dates January 28-29, 2000

Events

January 28
9:00 a.m. Women's 15km Classical Interval Start
9:30 a.m. Men's/Women's Giant Slalom
10:30 a.m. Men's 20 km Classical Interval Start

January 29
9:30 a.m. Men's/Women's Slalom
10:00 a.m. Mixed 4km and 7.5km Skate Relay

Race Chairman
Kurt Smitz, University of Denver
2201 E. Asbury Ave. Rm #4531
Denver, CO 80208
Phone: (303) 871-3822
Fax: (303) 871-3759

Coaches Quotes...

Interim Ski Director Kevin Sweeney
"I am more satisfied with some individual results than I am with the overall team totals that we've had. Team skiing is where we need to focus now. The effort isn't lacking. We just really need to focus and ski to our potential as a team. This isn't a mystery to any of the skiers. We need to do it now. It needs to happen to ensure NCAA qualifying. We've had outstanding individual performances and now its time to demonstrate team potential. The season is moving fast. Any time we're in the mix with top schools in the country, we know we are on track so that is a good sign. We are very hungry to score well in Colorado. Our spirit and mental preparedness is our key."

Last Week...
The first day of competition used the results from the U.S. National Ski Invitational towards the Montana State Invitational. The U.S. Nationals were being held at Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah from Jan. 8-15. Several University of Utah skiers turned in impressive results at the Jan. 12 cross country free technique races. Ute sophomore Rob Whitney placed fourteenth overall and was the third finishing collegiate skier in the men's 10km event. He was followed by Zack Simons who took 41st and Petter Svendsen who finished 58th. As a junior, Torin Koos finished 131st, qualifying for the U.S. Junior National Team. Utah junior Kristina Joder was the third finishing collegiate skier and tenth overall in the women's 5km event. Other Utah finishers were Marika Engstrom in 21st and Lene Pedersen in 32nd.

With one day remaining, Colorado held on to a ten point lead over Denver with the Utes in third place, 70 points behind the leader's pace and 41 ahead of fourth place New Mexico. Utah's Liz Sherry continued her impressive skiing by finishing third in the women's giant slalom. The rest of the lady alpine team struggled as the Utes' second finisher was Christina Babalis in 25th. Utah's chances at high points in the event took a severe blow when two-time All-American Sabrina Lawrence did not finish her first run in the giant slalom. In the men's giant slalom, Jernej Bukovec and Jed Schuetze finished eighth and ninth respectively to lead the men's alpine team.

After the last day of the Invitational, defending 1999 NCAA Champion Colorado comfortably defeated the field of nine teams to win its first competition of the season. The week before at the Utah Invitational, Colorado fell 2.5 points short of Denver who won the year's opening invite. This week, the Buffaloes scored revenge with a 33 point win over the Pioneers. The Utes placed third at the invitational tallying 452 points, 50 ahead of fourth place New Mexico.

The last day of competition featured the men's and women's slalom. In the women's event, New Mexico's Megan Mullen and Anna Beischer took first and second to earn high team points for the Lobos. Utah's top finishers were Liz Sherry who placed eighth followed by Annik Boulva in ninth.

In the men's slalom, freshman Jernej Bukovec led the Utes by taking third place with his best finish this year. Colorado's Andy Leroy won the race, besting Alaska's Per Klintberg by .49 seconds. Jed Scheutze also skied well for Utah placing sixth.

Next Week...
The Utes will travel to Eldora, Colorado to compete in the Colorado Invitational. This will be Utah's final Invitational before the NCAA Regional Championships are held on Feb. 18 and 19 in Jackson Hole, Wyo.. The host school for regionals will be the University of Alaska Anchorage.

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