Utah Ski Team Takes Fifth At CU Invitational

Saturday, February 4

Steamboat, Colo.

All Day

University of Utah

Colorado Invitational (SL)

2/5/2006 12:00 AM | Skiing

Feb. 5, 2006

Complete Team Results in PDF Format
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STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. - The University of Utah ski team had another strong performance in the alpine events, but was unable to climb to a podium finish. After competing in both the men's giant slalom and women's slalom, the Utes finished fifth overall at the 13th annual Colorado Invitational.

Host Colorado came away with the victory, knocking out Denver's quest for three straight Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Skiing Association wins this season. New Mexico held its ground to place second, while the Denver Pioneers placed third. Alaska-Anchorage had a good day in the men's GS to fend off Utah for the fourth-place finish. The Utes made a solid push to overcome the Seawolves, but ended up placing fifth to round out the top five team scores.

The men's downhill team had its best race of the season, placing second in the men's GS. Freshman sensation Scott Veenis piloted the men's squad by finishing second with a two-run time of 2:07.72. The newcomer was just tenths of a second behind Denver's Todd Ligare for the top spot. Gaspar Perricone rallied to eighth with a time of 2:09.22, while teammate Will McDonald garnered 11th in 2:09.95.

On the women's side, Utah placed fourth overall in the SL, finishing with three skiers in the top 15. Ute skiers Chelsea Laswell (1:32.68) and Erika Hogan (1:32.90) led the team finishing eighth and ninth respectively. Sophomore Kim Stephens finalized the Utes point total with her 14th-place finish in 1:33.72, while newcomer Mikaela Grassl skied to a 18th-place performance.

Next up, Utah will set its sights on the Western State Invitational in Crested Butte, Colo. this weekend (Feb. 10-11). This invite will be the last meeting before the NCAA West Regional Championships. Race times will be all day.

Colorado Invitational Team Results: 1. Colorado, 592; 2. New Mexico, 544; 3. Denver, 531.5; 4. Alaska-Anchorage, 458.5; 5. Utah, 452.5; 6. Montana State, 341.5; 7. Nevada, 301; 8. Western State, 222; 9. Whitman, 135; 10. Wyoming, 58; 11. Boise State, 37.