Completed Event: Skiing versus 20K Freestyle (M) on March 8, 2025 , , 1st
Final Score
Skiing
1st
vs 20K Freestyle (M)
Friday, January 12
Midway, UT
All Day
University of Utah
vs
7.5K Freestyle
Bushey Takes First Collegiate Win, Palmer-Leger Silver in Utah Invitational’s Freestyle
1/12/2024 4:04 PM | Skiing
Utes placed four men in the top seven and three women in the top eight
MIDWAY, Utah – The Utah Ski Team was unfazed by the cold temperatures, wind gusts and snowy conditions on Friday, as Brian Bushey earned his first collegiate podium and victory, while Sydney Palmer-Leger picked up a silver medal as the Utes began the Utah Invitational with 7.5K freestyle races at Soldier Hollow Nordic Center.
Combined between men and women, there were seven top-10 results for the Utes. It helped place Utah atop the team standings of the Utah Invitational with 187 points, giving the team a 39-pad lead on Alaska Fairbanks for second place.
"It was definitely a great day for us," said head Nordic coach Miles Havlick. "Challenging conditions for sure, but everyone stayed positive and paced really well. Brian was just incredible today. We saw glimmers of Brian at his very best throughout the Fall and today was one of those days for him. Each lap, he came through looking stronger and stronger. It was amazing for him to finish on top."
Bushey's interval start time of 18:48.1 was two seconds ahead of Denver's Andreas Kirkeng, and accordingly makes Bushey the first starter in Saturday's pursuit event. Joe Davies tabbed fourth (19:00.2), while Walker Hall (19:05.7) and Tom Mancini (19:07.1) tag-teamed the Nos. 6 and 7 spots in the race. It totaled out to 98 points in that race for Utah, leading all teams on the men's side.
"The past few years, our women's team has definitely been the backbone of our points," Havlick said. "Today the men stepped up. They're a really cohesive group; it's really cool to see them ski up there toward the top of the results."
Bushey, who was named All-RMISA Second Team as a sophomore last season, earned his first podium and first win after five previous top-five finishes in his first two seasons as a Ute.
"I just felt really good right from the start," Bushey said. "I knew I had to push really hard to make the most of it. Definitely really excited to be on the podium for the first time in an RMISA race. To win was unexpected, and I'm glad it all came together today."
In the women's competition, Palmer-Leger skied to her third podium in four starts this season, tallying a mark of 22:11.9. Nina Schamberger placed fifth at 22:29.4, while Karianne Dengerud rounded out the scoring for Utah in eighth place (22:51.5).
Zachary Jayne also raced for Utah, placing 13th in the men's event, while Witta Walcher (23rd) and Celine Mayer (29th) rounded out the women's finishers for the Utes.
Next Up
The Utes will be back at Soldier Hollow on Saturday for a 10K classic pursuit start, with the women's race beginning at 9:30 a.m. and the men going off at 10:45 a.m. A pursuit start means that the start order for the race is determined by today's finish order. The skiers' starts will be staggered by their time behind the winner as they then try to pursue the leader.
Alpine season is also less than a week away; the schedule kicks off with races at the Utah Olympic Park from Wednesday through Saturday, January 17-20. It'll include two days of giant slalom and two days of slalom, with one of each as part of the Westminster Invitational and Utah Invitational.
Follow the Utah Ski Team
Follow the Utes on social media (@utahskiteam).
Combined between men and women, there were seven top-10 results for the Utes. It helped place Utah atop the team standings of the Utah Invitational with 187 points, giving the team a 39-pad lead on Alaska Fairbanks for second place.
"It was definitely a great day for us," said head Nordic coach Miles Havlick. "Challenging conditions for sure, but everyone stayed positive and paced really well. Brian was just incredible today. We saw glimmers of Brian at his very best throughout the Fall and today was one of those days for him. Each lap, he came through looking stronger and stronger. It was amazing for him to finish on top."
Bushey's interval start time of 18:48.1 was two seconds ahead of Denver's Andreas Kirkeng, and accordingly makes Bushey the first starter in Saturday's pursuit event. Joe Davies tabbed fourth (19:00.2), while Walker Hall (19:05.7) and Tom Mancini (19:07.1) tag-teamed the Nos. 6 and 7 spots in the race. It totaled out to 98 points in that race for Utah, leading all teams on the men's side.
"The past few years, our women's team has definitely been the backbone of our points," Havlick said. "Today the men stepped up. They're a really cohesive group; it's really cool to see them ski up there toward the top of the results."
Bushey, who was named All-RMISA Second Team as a sophomore last season, earned his first podium and first win after five previous top-five finishes in his first two seasons as a Ute.
"I just felt really good right from the start," Bushey said. "I knew I had to push really hard to make the most of it. Definitely really excited to be on the podium for the first time in an RMISA race. To win was unexpected, and I'm glad it all came together today."
In the women's competition, Palmer-Leger skied to her third podium in four starts this season, tallying a mark of 22:11.9. Nina Schamberger placed fifth at 22:29.4, while Karianne Dengerud rounded out the scoring for Utah in eighth place (22:51.5).
Zachary Jayne also raced for Utah, placing 13th in the men's event, while Witta Walcher (23rd) and Celine Mayer (29th) rounded out the women's finishers for the Utes.
Next Up
The Utes will be back at Soldier Hollow on Saturday for a 10K classic pursuit start, with the women's race beginning at 9:30 a.m. and the men going off at 10:45 a.m. A pursuit start means that the start order for the race is determined by today's finish order. The skiers' starts will be staggered by their time behind the winner as they then try to pursue the leader.
Alpine season is also less than a week away; the schedule kicks off with races at the Utah Olympic Park from Wednesday through Saturday, January 17-20. It'll include two days of giant slalom and two days of slalom, with one of each as part of the Westminster Invitational and Utah Invitational.
Follow the Utah Ski Team
Follow the Utes on social media (@utahskiteam).
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