New Mexico Extends Lead At Utah Invite

Tuesday, January 12, 2010 – by Curtis Snyder, RMISASkiing.com

Results Available On Schedule/Results Page

PARK CITY, Utah – With the alpine portion of the 2010 Utah Invitational complete, the defending RMISA champion New Mexico Lobos remain in first place and extend their lead in the kickoff for the collegiate teams in the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association.

The Lobos used another dominating performance on the women’s side, including a victory by Malin Hemmingsson (1:42.05), and two additional top-six finishes, to rack up 126 points. The Lobos also scored 110 points on the men’s side and now have 467 points and a 24 point lead over second place Denver (423), the defending NCAA champion.

Utah remained in third place with 378 points while Colorado (370) and Nevada (344) switched places between fourth and fifth, and Alaska Anchorage (329) and Montana State (291) round out the action.

On the women’s side, Hemmingsson was joined by Denver’s Lindsay Cone (second, 1:42.18) and Colorado’s Erika Ghent (third, 1:43.20). New Mexico’s Jacqueline Hangl and Utah’s Eva Huckova tied for fourth in a time of 1:43.26.

UNM won the race racking up 126 points while Colorado also scored over 100 points with 107. Utah (98) and Alaska Anchorage (94) also had solid performances on the women’s side.

In men’s action, Denver’s Leif Haugen won the race, giving the Pioneers both individual wins in the meet. Haugen won in a time of 1:49.76. Utah’s Torjus Krogdahl finished second (1:50.70) and Haugen’s teammate, Andreas Kilde (third, 1:50.79) round out the podium finishers while New Mexico’s Petter Brenna (1:51.39) and Chriss Salbu (1:51.66) round out the top five.

Denver edged out New Mexico, 113-110 in the men’s race while Utah (95) and Colorado (90) both scored 90or more points, as well.

The Utah Invitational will continue January 22-23 at Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah. In the meantime, RMISA squads will compete in the Montana State Invitational later this week. There will be an RMISA qualifier giant slalom race on Friday with all eight races in the MSU Invite slated for the weekend. Nordic teams will hit the snow for the first time.