Completed Event: Skiing versus 20K Freestyle (M) on March 8, 2025 , , 1st
Final Score
Skiing
1st
vs 20K Freestyle (M)
Friday, January 7
Midway, Utah
All Day
University of Utah
vs
Classic Sprints
Photo by: Ryan Gallant
Utes Awarded College Cup; Palmer-Leger and Keeffe Hit RMISA Podium in Classic Sprints
1/7/2022 6:57 PM | Skiing
Palmer-Leger has won all three women’s college races this season
MIDWAY, Utah – Utah's Nordic team wrapped up a busy week of racing at Soldier Hollow on Friday with an RMISA classic sprint qualifier. As the day was an individual qualifier, no RMISA team results were kept.
Still, and despite being shorthanded a few Utes this week, Utah walked away winners of the College Cup overall team championship as well as the women's team championship. The College Cup is awarded to the top collegiate program competing throughout this past week's U.S. Nationals, with the college races all week encompassing.
Individually Friday, the Utes were once again led on the men's and women's sides by Noel Keeffe and Sydney Palmer-Leger, respectively. Palmer-Leger, the hometown product from nearby Park City, won the women's college race and has taken all three women's college events this season, while Keeffe tabbed third in the men's classic sprints. Palmer-Leger added a third-place junior tally in the larger nationals event and Keeffe took sixth in the men's senior field.
"Overall the week was a great success," said head Nordic coach Miles Havlick. "We brought home the College Cup title, qualified several athletes for U23 World Championships and World Juniors. We were also shorthanded missing several athletes throughout the week."
In the women's RMISA field, the Utes also sealed the Nos. 6 and 7 spots with Abby Jarzin and Julia Richter, and for the men Bjørn Riksaasen added a ninth-place finish.
"It has been a long week of racing, but Noel and Sydney came out with guns blazing as usual," Havlick added. "They fought hard throughout all the heats, through the ice, slush and wind to claim their spots on the collegiate podium. It's well-deserved and I'm super proud of their resilience and determination all week. I am looking forward to seeing the team carry this momentum forward into the Montana State Invitational next weekend!"
The day began with morning qualifiers as part of the nationals schedule, which saw Palmer-Leger power through getting tripped up early in that run and bounce back nicely to reach the quarterfinals. She went on to win her quarterfinal heat and take third in her semifinal.
Keeffe was across the finish line third in both his quarterfinal and semifinal, but still advanced in each as he was one of two Lucky Losers in each round. Although advancing that way, in comparison Keeffe's quarterfinal time was faster than the winning times in the other four heats, including eventual champion Magnus Boee. His semifinal time beat the entire other heat by over 10 seconds before finishing sixth overall in the final and third among collegians.
"Everybody on the team performed pretty well this week," said Keeffe. "It was pretty awesome and all we could hope for. The conditions were a bit challenging, but we have good skis. Today was definitely challenging mentally and physically, but you just have to remember everybody is in the same boat. If you can just have that little bit of fighting edge in you, it makes a big difference—that's something to remember out there."
The Utes now turn their attention to the Montana State Invitational with the Nordic portion held in Sun Valley, Idaho. The Nordic portion of the meet will be held on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 15-16, with Saturday's races including 5/10K freestyle and Sunday's slate calling for 10/15K classic racing. Also right around the corner is the start of the alpine season which also begins at the MSU Invitational (Jan. 18-19).
Follow UtahUtes.com and @utahskiteam across social media for continuing coverage of the team.
Still, and despite being shorthanded a few Utes this week, Utah walked away winners of the College Cup overall team championship as well as the women's team championship. The College Cup is awarded to the top collegiate program competing throughout this past week's U.S. Nationals, with the college races all week encompassing.
Individually Friday, the Utes were once again led on the men's and women's sides by Noel Keeffe and Sydney Palmer-Leger, respectively. Palmer-Leger, the hometown product from nearby Park City, won the women's college race and has taken all three women's college events this season, while Keeffe tabbed third in the men's classic sprints. Palmer-Leger added a third-place junior tally in the larger nationals event and Keeffe took sixth in the men's senior field.
"Overall the week was a great success," said head Nordic coach Miles Havlick. "We brought home the College Cup title, qualified several athletes for U23 World Championships and World Juniors. We were also shorthanded missing several athletes throughout the week."
In the women's RMISA field, the Utes also sealed the Nos. 6 and 7 spots with Abby Jarzin and Julia Richter, and for the men Bjørn Riksaasen added a ninth-place finish.
"It has been a long week of racing, but Noel and Sydney came out with guns blazing as usual," Havlick added. "They fought hard throughout all the heats, through the ice, slush and wind to claim their spots on the collegiate podium. It's well-deserved and I'm super proud of their resilience and determination all week. I am looking forward to seeing the team carry this momentum forward into the Montana State Invitational next weekend!"
The day began with morning qualifiers as part of the nationals schedule, which saw Palmer-Leger power through getting tripped up early in that run and bounce back nicely to reach the quarterfinals. She went on to win her quarterfinal heat and take third in her semifinal.
Keeffe was across the finish line third in both his quarterfinal and semifinal, but still advanced in each as he was one of two Lucky Losers in each round. Although advancing that way, in comparison Keeffe's quarterfinal time was faster than the winning times in the other four heats, including eventual champion Magnus Boee. His semifinal time beat the entire other heat by over 10 seconds before finishing sixth overall in the final and third among collegians.
"Everybody on the team performed pretty well this week," said Keeffe. "It was pretty awesome and all we could hope for. The conditions were a bit challenging, but we have good skis. Today was definitely challenging mentally and physically, but you just have to remember everybody is in the same boat. If you can just have that little bit of fighting edge in you, it makes a big difference—that's something to remember out there."
The Utes now turn their attention to the Montana State Invitational with the Nordic portion held in Sun Valley, Idaho. The Nordic portion of the meet will be held on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 15-16, with Saturday's races including 5/10K freestyle and Sunday's slate calling for 10/15K classic racing. Also right around the corner is the start of the alpine season which also begins at the MSU Invitational (Jan. 18-19).
Follow UtahUtes.com and @utahskiteam across social media for continuing coverage of the team.
Players Mentioned
Nordic
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Nordic
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