Ski Team Places First Overall At Regional Championships

Sunday, February 23

Winter Park, Colo.

TBA

University of Utah

DU/RMISA Regional Championships (Alpine/C.C.)

Ski Team Places First Overall At Regional Championships

2/24/2003 12:00 AM | Skiing

Feb. 24, 2003

WINTER PARK, Colo. - The University of Utah ski team held nothing back, skiing to its first-ever first-place finish at the RMISA Regional Championships this season. The Ute skiers dowsed the competition, scoring three finishes in the top 10 in each discipline. Utah finished the meet with an overall total of 581, while Colorado (563) claimed second and Denver (541.5) held on for third.

"We had an exceptional day," remarked Head Coach Kevin Sweeney. "I'm very excited with the overall team's performance today. It was great to see us scoring three athletes in the top 10 in every discipline. By doing that, we demonstrated we are a contender for the national title."

Utah was seeded third after completing the slalom and skate events, but wasted no time making itself known in the giant slalom and classical races.

The women's alpine team had one of its best overall performances of the season, placing four skiers in the top 10. Sophomore Rowena Bright has one of her best college finishes, placing second in the GS. Petra Svet's time of 2:07.24 landed her fourth place, while junior Lina Johansson rounded out the Utes' scores finishing sixth. Elisha Stephens finished with a 10th-place finish.

The men's alpine squad was much the same, finishing the meet in impressive form. Freshman Benjamin Thornhill led the way finishing third with a time of 2:01.15, followed by teammate Pierre Olsson who came away with a fourth-place finish. Senior Jernej Bukovec skied 10th, while Josh Whitham notched a 12th-place finish for the Utes.

On the women's nordic team, it was Katrin Smigun's time of 32:17.4 that blew away the competition. The junior added yet another first-place finish to her already extensive collection. Sara Svendsen skied solid once again, finishing second in the 10 km classical. Sophomore Barbro Hatlevik scored a time of 35:03.5 to take home an eighth-place finish.

"Katrin was one of the highlights on the event," Sweeney said. "She went undefeated in the Western Region in every meet and remains undefeated. The nordic team had an exceptional performance in the classical and clearly dominated."

The men's cross country team was headed by Jess Kiesel. The freshman's placing of fourth in the 15 km classical, marked his best-ever college result. Seniors Ryan Quinn (46:57.0) and Zack Simons (46:57.8) rounded out Utah's finishes in the CL by skiing sixth and eighth.

"I wanted to have a strong showing in the Regional Championships," remarked Sweeney. "We are now preparing for the NCAA Championships. We are in a really good position, This team is continuing to surprise me. They have really come together. Its a good feeling and I'm happy to say we are finally strong and healthy. We are charging and gunning for the title."

Utah will rest up a few days before traveling to Hanover, N.H., to compete in the 2003 NCAA Championships. This years championships will be held March 5-8. Start times are TBA.