Kocken Wins First Collegiate Race at RMISA Championships

Saturday, February 27

Steamboat Springs, Colo.

All Day

University of Utah

RMISA Championships

Kocken Wins First Collegiate Race at RMISA Championships

2/27/2010 12:00 AM | Skiing

Feb. 27, 2010

Final Results in PDF Format

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. - Utah freshman skier Anna Kocken earned her first collegiate victory in the slalom at the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association Championships on Saturday evening.

Kocken finished the race in 1:20.32. Sofia Smith was also strong on the slalom course, placing 12th in 1:23.09.

"For Anna to have this kind of confidence on the NCAA course is a great way to go into the NCAA Championships in two weeks," Director of Skiing Eli Brown said. "It's great to end the regular season on a high note. The team is fired up and can't wait to get back to Steamboat."

In the men's slalom, Kyle Kung finished sixth to lead Utah with a time of 1:15.96. Torjus Krogdahl placed 11th in 1:21.08 while Thomas Zumbrunn was 24th, who returned to the hill after crashing yesterday.

"It was a tough day in the men's race as a lot of skiers fell out," Brown said.

For the Nordic skiers, the men were led by three top-10 finishes as Didrik Smith (eighth), Martin Liljemark (ninth) and Miles Havlick (10th) were all strong in the 20-km free. Smith finished with a time of 54:55.4 with Liljemark crossing the line in 54:55.9 followed by Havlick's 54:56.2. Ben Fick placed 18th with a time of 56:46.8 while Tom Smith crossed the line 20th in 56:56.7. Rolf Figi (26th) and Ian Havlick (27th) also raced for Utah.

Zoe Roy paced the women with an eighth-place run win the women's 15-km free race with a time of 47:27.7. Rose Kemp in 16th (49:16.0) and Sarah MacCarthy in 17th (49:16.6) also scored for Utah. Marta Larsen placed 19th (50:16.1) followed by Devon Spika (21st, 51:07.1) and Karina Smith (25th, 52:36.9).

"We showed strong fitness again today," Brown said. "Martin and Didrik started hard and faded a bit in the end. Great races again from Zoe and Miles."

Utah finished fourth overall. Colorado won the meet with 902 points, followed by Alaska (764) and New Mexico (725).

The NCAA Championships begins on Wednesday, March 10.