Alaska Anchorage Jumps Out To Early Lead At Own Invitational

Monday, January 5, 2009 – by Curtis Snyder, RMISASkiing.com

Results Available On Schedule/Results Page

KINCAID PARK, Alaska – Host institution University of Alaska Anchorage jumped out to an early lead here Monday through two of eight races at the 2009 UAA Invitational on the strength of a 2-3-4 finish in the women’s freestyle and a 4-5-6 finish on the men’s side.

The Seawolves currently hold an 18 point lead over Colorado, 159-131. The defending RMISA champion Buffaloes were hampered with just two skiers finishing the nordic race. Defending NCAA champion Denver is currently third with 116 points, followed by Montana State (112), Nevada and Utah (105), New Mexico (99), Whitman (45) and Wyoming (24).

On the women’s side, Colorado newcomer Alexa Turzian won the race by over a half-minute, coming in at 15:29.3 followed by Denver’s Antje Maempel at 16:00.7. Alaska Anchorage then had the next three skiers to round out the top five with Sadie Bjornsen (16:04.5), Jamie Bronga (16:10.6) and Amy Glen (16:12.6). Defending NCAA champion Maria Grevsgaard, who won 11 of 12 nordic races a year ago, was hampered with an illness and finished 12th.

Alaska Anchorage compiled 81 points on the women’s side followed by 68 from Denver, 58 from Nevada and 56 from Utah.

In men’s action, another Colorado newcomer, Vegard Kjoelhamar, also won by over a half-minute, coming in the 10 km race in 25:41.9, 32.2 seconds ahead of New Mexico’s Simon Reissmann (26:14.1). The Buffs’ Jesper Oestensen took third place in 26:20.8 followed by three Alaska Anchorage skiers with Max Treinen taking fourth in 26:28.0, Raphael Wunderle fifth in 26:43.5 and Lex Treinen sixth in 26:43.5. CU’s Matthew Gelso finished seventh as the Buffs third scorer in 26:55.3.

Colorado edged out Alaska Anchorage, 82-78, in the point totals on the men’s side, with New Mexico in third with 63 points followed by Montana State (50), Utah (49), Denver (48) and Nevada (47).

Action continues Tuesday with the men’s and women’s classical races, which were moved up a day from Wednesday to Tuesday. Alpine action to conclude the UAA Invitational will take place Jan. 9 with the men’s giant slalom and women’s slalom action and conclude Jan. 11 with the women’s giant slalom and the men’s slalom.

Nordic action continues in Alaska at the Seawolf Invitational Jan. 10 with the classical followed by the freestyle competition Jan. 11.