Utes Ahead Entering Final Day of RMISA Invitational

Saturday, February 5

Fairbanks, Alaska

All Day

University of Utah

5/10K Freestyle (I)

Utes Ahead Entering Final Day of RMISA Invitational

2/5/2022 6:50 PM | Skiing

Results

Palmer-Leger wins 5K freestyle, Utes go 4-5-6 in men’s 10K

FAIRBANKS, Alaska – Sydney Palmer-Leger picked up her third win of the week to highlight a Utah ski team that concluded Saturday's 5/10K freestyle with an 81-point lead on Colorado heading into the final day of the RMISA Invitational at Birch Hill.

Abby Jarzin and Julia Richter took the Nos. 4 and 5 spots, and Karianne Dengerud (eighth) logged her fourth straight top-10. On the men's side, Samuel Hendry, Brian Bushey and Bjørn Riksaasen were 4-5-6 in that 10K event, further highlighting the talented depth of this team even in spite of having six athletes (three Nordic, three alpine) unavailable due to Olympic competition.

It was a nice bounce back for the Utes, who shifted to the RMISA Invitational today after a tough few days of racing in the Alaska Fairbanks Invitational.

"It was another great race for Sydney today, and she is clearly dominating the women's field," said director of skiing Fredrik Landstedt. "Abby and Julia also had great races, as did Karianne even in spite of fell in a fast downhill and lost some time. The men also had a great day. Sam was fighting for the podium the entire way, and Brian came on really fast in the end. Bjorn had his best race of the season. Walker Hall fell hard on the second lap but recovered well."

Hall managed a ninth-place finish in the men's race.

Palmer-Leger now owns six collegiate wins in eight starts this season. It includes both Alaska Fairbanks Invitational events earlier this week, both events at the Utah Invitational as well as in the classic sprints RMISA Qualifier on Jan. 7.

Utah will close out the RMISA Invitational with a 10K classical race at Birch Hill on Sunday, Feb. 6.

Follow the Utes on social media (@utahskiteam).