Three Utes Post Individual Wins on Day Two in Alaska

Tuesday, February 21

Anchorage, Alaska

All Day

University of Utah

10K Classical

Novie McCabe - 2023 UAA Invitational FS SP

Photo by: Skip Hickey / Skips Pics

Three Utes Post Individual Wins on Day Two in Alaska

2/21/2023 7:39 PM | Skiing

Results

Jager, McCabe and Vøllo victorious in 10K classic and giant slalom races

ANCHORAGE, Alaska and GIRDWOOD, Alaska – Luke Jager, Novie McCabe and Gustav Vøllo each had individual victories as the Utah Ski Team reached the home stretch of the Alaska Anchorage Invitational on Tuesday. Jager and McCabe triumphed in the men's and women's 10K classic races at Kincaid Park, while Vøllo's time of 1:32.85 was best in the field for men's giant slalom at Alyeska Resort.

Through three races, Utah remains in the lead for the meet with 499 points. Denver has moved into second place and is 92 points back (407).

This week brings an overlap to the schedule for Utah. The Nordic portion of the UAA Invitational is now complete; all that remains for this meet is slalom on Thursday at Ayleska Resort.

In the meantime, alpine teams will remain at Ayleska Resort to begin the 2023 RMISA Championships. Giant slalom will be contested on Wednesday and slalom on Friday. Nordic races in the RMISA Championships will be held at Government Peak Recreation Area in 5/10K freestyle (Friday) and 20K classic (Saturday).

Nordic – Jager Earns Second Straight Win
A day after taking first in freestyle sprints, Luke Jager was back atop the podium with a win in Tuesday's 10K classic, with Novie McCabe coming back for a victory of her own after taking silver in Monday's freestyle sprints.

Three Utes finished in the top-seven of the women's race, led by McCabe (30:41.0) followed by Celine Mayer (31:30.0) and Karianne Dengerud (31:52.5) in fifth and seventh, respectively. Ezra Smith rounded out the Utah lineup on the women's side, placing 17^th. Utah is currently without Sophia Laukli and Sydney Palmer-Leger, both of whom are currently in Slovenia to compete at the 2023 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships.

McCabe had a 20-plus second margin of victory in the mass start race.

In the men's race, Jager was across the finish line in 26:27.0 and battled Andreas Kirkeng of Denver, ultimately finishing two-plus seconds ahead of Kirkeng. Walker Hall placed fourth (26:46.7) and Brian Bushey was 11^th across the line (27:22.9). Tom Mancini and Noel Keeffe were 13-14.

Alpine – Vollo Takes Men's GS, Parker in Women's Top-Five
Gustav Vøllo earned his fourth giant slalom win as a Ute and second this season, while Katie Parker led the charge for Utah on the women's side on Tuesday.

Vøllo, who won the first run, finished with a combined time of 1:32.85. Raphael Lessard tabbed seventh (1:34.15) and Bjorn Brudevoll (1:34.18) was eighth. Lessard sat 15^th after the first run, then came back with a second-run time of 47.30 seconds—fourth-best in the afternoon.

Parker's day (1:36.08) included a first-run that saw her finish in 46.94 seconds, placing third in the morning. Michelle Kervén also scored for the Utes, placing 28^th.

Follow the Utah Ski Team on social media @utahskiteam.