Ski Team Drops To Fourth At NCAAs

Thursday, March 9

Steamboat, Colo.

All Day

University of Utah

NCAA Skiing Championships (5/10 CL)

3/9/2006 12:00 AM | Skiing

March 9, 2006

Complete Team Results in PDF Format
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Complete Men's 10-km Results in PDF Format
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Complete Women's 5-km Results in PDF Format
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STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. -- After day two of the 2006 NCAA National Skiing Championships, the University of Utah ski team dropped a spot to take a team finish of fourth after competing in the 5/10-km classical. The Utes (253) are still in contention, but were edged out by the Lobos of New Mexico (254) by a single point.

"The conditions today were very difficult, but our athletes skied hard," remarked head coach Eli Brown. "It was a tricky day of waxing, trying to gage the weather. It stayed drier than we thought, which I think hurt our performance. I know we can ski faster and we hope to show that in the skate."

In her first year in the college racing circuit, Ute freshman and newly acclaimed second-team All-American Sara Schweiger rallied to a 10th-place finish in the 5-km CL with a overall time of 17:20.3. The Schwangau, Germany native came into this event ranked eighth and has compiled three top 10 finishes on the season. This is the second All-American recorded by Utah over the span of this year's NCAAs.

Second year NCAA competitor Nicole Naef notched 12th to help lead the Utes, with a time of 17:26.8, while senior Ashley McQueen in her first appearance at the NCAAs garnered 28th in 18:27.4.

"It's great to see Sara finish in the top 10," said Brown. "Our women can ski better and we are hoping to accomplish that in the freestyle. Nicole has had some ups and downs this season, so it was good to see her ski well today."

The men's nordic team battled difficult weather conditions in the 10-km CL, led by junior Erik Gjomle's 21st-place performance in 30:24.4. Utah's Jess Kiesel skied to 31st with a time of 31:22.7 and junior newcomer Fabian Figi grabbed 33rd in 31:55.7.

"The men had a rough day, but I'm confident we will ski better in the freestyle," said Brown.

"The team is really fired up going into tomorrow's slalom," added Brown. "We are really pulling for the alpine team and it's good to see this team coming together."

Tomorrow, the Ute ski team will try to gain ground on New Mexico and take back the third place position. The first-ever night slalom event will take place at Howelsen Hill resort, with the men beginning at 5:15 p.m. (MST) and the women at 6:30 p.m. The flower ceremony will take place immediately following.

NCAA Championship Team Scores -- 1. Denver 337.5; 2. Colorado 307; 3. New Mexico 254, 4. Utah and Vermont 253; 6. Dartmouth 237.5; 7. Alaska-Anchorage 208, 8. New Hampshire 170, 9. Middlebury 169, 10. Nevada 135; 11. Alaska-Fairbanks 129, 12. Bates 110, 13. Northern Michigan 108; 14. Montana State 88, 15. Williams 64.5; 16. Western State 63, 17. Colby 59, 18. Michigan Tech 37, 19. Whitman 26.5, 20. Boise State 24, 21. St. Olaf 12, 22. Wisconsin-Green Bay, 10, 23. St. Lawrence 5, 24. Gustavus Adolphus 2.