Palmer-Leger and Hendry Claim Wins at RMISA Invitational

Monday, January 18

Midway, UT

All Day

University of Utah

15/20K Classic

Palmer-Leger and Hendry Claim Wins at RMISA Invitational

1/18/2021 3:02 PM | Skiing

Results

Utes Place Four Total on the Podium from the Two Races

SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Nordic teams swept both races at Soldier Hollow on Monday, January 18 to cap a tremendous opening weekend that saw them win three of the four races.

On Monday, it was freshman Sydney Palmer-Leger that won the 15K and then Samuel Hendry claimed first in the 20K right after.

"The first race weekend is always a bit of a mystery," head Nordic coach Miles Havlick said. "You don't know how the other teams have been training and where they are in relation to our guys stacking up with them. Overall, we had an incredible weekend. The women came out charging. I don't think it could get any better than that in one of the most dominant performances that I've been around for at least. The men were definitely left with wanting a little more from yesterday, so today they redeemed themselves and they are very satisfied with the results."

In the 15K, the Utes controlled the race throughout as Palmer-Leger, Novie McCabe and Julia Richter were up towards the front the entire race. In the end, Palmer-Leger grabbed control at the end of the third lap and pulled away on the fourth lap.

"I wanted to have fun today in the last race of the three-day weekend and wanted to keep it consistent and draft as much as possible to conserve energy," Palmer-Leger said. "Then, I just wanted to stay relaxed and stay big because I'm a powerful skier instead of short fast tempo, but I kind of had a mix up when I had my little crash at the end of the first lap, so I just had to stay relaxed and try to get back to the lead group. My plan after that was to go for it at the end of the third lap so for the fourth lap I would have some time. It felt really good and was really hard, but I'm happy."

Palmer-Leger's race did have a small speed bump as she fell coming down a hill on the first lap. She recovered quickly though catching up with the front group shortly after.

"Falling reinforced my game plan and I definitely had more adrenaline pumping," Palmer-Leger said. "Once I got up, I just focused on they were a little ahead and it was only the first lap, and I still have three left. From there, I just relaxed and went a little faster than them to catch back up."

Overall, Utah had six of the top ten in the race. McCabe finished in the third, Richter got fourth, Mariah Bredal came in fifth, Karianne Moe in sixth and Abby Jarzin in 10^th.

On the men's side, they also controlled the race from the get go. There were four racers the separated themselves including Hendry and Ola Jordheim. In the final lap, Hendry grabbed the lead going up one of the last hills and held on for the win.

Jordheim finished the race in third. Luke Jager was right behind them in fifth. The fourth finisher in the top 10 for Utah was Bjørn Riksaasen. Noel Keeffe crossed the line in 15^th place.

On the weekend, Utah won three of the four races in the opening weekend of the season and had seven members on the podium in the four races.

The dominant performance put Utah up 75 points in the standings as they sit in the top spot at the end of the Nordic races.

"I think it's a great confidence boost for everyone," Havlick said. "Really the reassurance that the training has gone really well, and we're figuring out how to wax their skis so putting together all the small pieces of the puzzle. It's all coming together, and we'll try and keep it rolling next weekend."

Next weekend, the Utah Nordic team will be racing in Minturn, Colorado on Friday, January 22 and Saturday, January 23.