February 23, 2008 (Bozeman, Mont.) – The University of Colorado ski team got another exceptional performance from its Nordic teams, and despite a surprising unexpected sub-par day from its women’s alpine unit, the Buffaloes own a 17-point lead at the midway point of the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association Championships here Friday.

This meet also doubles as the NCAA West Regional/Montana State Invitational, and the NCAA Championships will be held on the same courses in just two weeks, so it’s also serving as a great test run for the western schools.

Colorado leads the 9-team meet with 266 points, though 54 points separate the top seven in the standings, making this easily the most contested race of the five thus far this season. Denver is in second (249), followed by Utah (245), New Mexico (230), Nevada (219), Alaska-Anchorage (214) and host Montana State (212).

The Buffaloes are trying to win their ninth regional title under head coach Richard Rokos, last doing so in 2006 on their way to the national title. Colorado has 21 RMISA titles, 11 men’s, one women’s and nine coed.

CU has already qualified the maximum three men’s and women’s Nordic skiers and three women’s alpine competitors for the NCAA’s, thus this meet is more about improving seeding, if possible.

In cross country, senior Maria Grevsgaard returned to her winning ways, as she captured the women’s 5-kilometer freestyle race in 14:56.25, good for a 10-plus second nod over Denver’s Annelise Bailly (15:06.96). She won the first seven races of the season before a second place finish in the freestyle in New Mexico. It was her 16th career win, adding to her all-time CU record; in addition, though a senior academically, should she choose to return for school next year which is her plan, she will have another year of eligibility remaining.

All-Time Individual Wins by CU Skiers
– 16 wins – Maria Grevsgaard, 2006-08 (10 CL, 6 FS)
– 13 wins – Per Kare Jakobsen, 1988-90 (9 FS/XC, 4 CL)
– 13 wins – Lucie Zikova, 2005-08 (10 SL, 3 GS)
– 11 wins – Anette Skjolden, 1991-93 (7 CL, 4 FS)
– 11 wins – Line Selnes, 1998 (6 FS, 5 CL)
– 10 wins – Bjorn Svensson, 1990-93 (6 FS, 4 CL)
– 12 wins – John Skajem, 1985-87 (8 SL, 4 GS)

Junior Lenka Palanova finished third in 15:15.95 and senior Jenny Hamilton was eighth in 15:33.79 to give Colorado 81 points as a team for the race, easily outdistancing Denver and Nevada, who tied for second with 67. Freshman Karoline Borgnes (14th, 16:04.76), senior Mia Gaw (15th, 16:14.30) and sophomore Kristin Ronnestrand (17th, 16:18.15) rounded out the CU performers and once again placed all six Buff skiers in the top 17 for the third straight race and the fourth time this winter.

In the men’s 10km freestyle, Buff senior Kit Richmond won his second straight race, completing two loops around the layout in 27:02.10. Alaska’s Raphael Wunderle took runner-up honors in 27:06.24. It was also his second win of the season but the fifth of his career, with four coming in the freestyle. He also has posted five straight top five finishes since illness forced him to miss the classic race in CU’s own invitational.

CU only traveled three Nordic men to the meet, though five have earned qualifying seeds for the NCAA’s, and all three placed in the top eight, the third straight time and fifth overall this season the Buffs have had three in the top 10. Freshman Jesper Ostensen was fourth in 27:35.32, with sophomore Josh Smith eighth in 28:07.27. It was the second straight top 10 finish for Smith, the first two of his college career.

“I felt good about today, everyone skied well and we accomplished what we set out to do,” CU Nordic coordinator Bruce Cranmer said. “We’d like to win regionals, but there are more important things to accomplish here as we have our eye on the bigger prize in two weeks.

“We wanted to have good quality races on the course that will be utilized for the NCAA’s,” he explained. “My team (for NCAA’s) isn’t totally picked, so I want to see how we perform here. The strategy is to feel confident on this course, to get familiarized with the nuances of it and to ski well. And it always helps to have some good finishes right before nationals. We’re on our “A” game or close to it. We had all three guys we brought in the top eight, so I feel real good about that.”

One of CU’s top Nordic performers, Matt Gelso stayed in Boulder, as the sophomore still isn’t 100 percent after battling illness since late last month. “He should be close to his old self in two weeks, and a healthy Matt Gelso is going to be tough,” Cranmer added. Junior Karl Nygren, who likely won’t be among CU’s top three for NCAA’s though he has qualified, is not here as he was selected to represent the United States this weekend at the U-23 World Championships in Italy.

With four races left in the west this winter, Colorado is in good position to claim the most individual race titles for the second straight year. CU skiers have won 14 races this winter to Denver’s 11; Utah (8), Nevada (3) and New Mexico (2) are the other schools with athletes reaching the top of the podium.

The RMISA Championships conclude Saturday with the alpine slalom and classical cross country races. The coaches then have to submit which racers will represent their teams early next week for the NCAA Championships, which are March 5-8.

RMISA Championship/NCAA West

Regional Team Scores
1. Colorado 266
2. Denver 249
3. Utah 245
4. New Mexico 230
5. Nevada 219
6. Alaska-Anchorage 214
7. Montana State 212
8. Whitman 102
9. Western State 95.

Men’s 10km Freestyle
1. Kit Richmond, CU, 27:02.10
2. Raphael Wunderle, UAA, 27:06.24
3. John Stene, DU, 27:19.88
4. Jesper Ostensen, CU, 27:35.32
5. Snorri Einarsson, Utah, 27:41.28
6. Anders Folleraas, MSU, 27:49.46
7. Gunnar Kristiansen, MSU, 27:58.69
8. Josh Smith, CU, 28:07.27
9. Even Sletten, Utah, 28:13.20
10. Haavard Selseng, DU, 28:13.87

Other Area Results:
14. Taylor Sheldon, DU, 28:26.52
19. Mike Hinckley, DU, 28:36.66
23. Kyle Ahern, DU, 29:17.84
25. Dan Clark, DU, 29:32.50
32. Tom Sunderland, WSC, 31:05.02
38. Ansel Schimpff, WSC, 31:47.25
41. Tyler Allyn, WSC, 34:07.58
42. Seth Carvill, WSC, 36:46.15.

Women’s 5km Freestyle
1. Maria Grevsgaard, CU, 14:56.25
2. Annelise Bailly, DU, 15:06.96
3. Lenka Palanova, CU, 15:15.95
4. Chelsea Holmes, UN, 15:16.87
5. Antje Maempel, DU, 15:19.14
6. Ermoshina Polina, UNM, 15:29.04
7. Paige Brady, UN, 15:31.07
8. Jenny Hamilton, CU, 15:33.79
9. Devon Spika, Whit., 15:39.02
10. Sara Schweiger, Utah, 15:43.80.

Other Area Results
14. Karoline Borgnes, CU, 16:04.76
15. Mia Gaw, CU, 16:14.30
17. Kristin Ronnestrand, CU, 16:18.15
23. Katie Ronsse, DU, 16:39.46
27. Stephanie Wunderle, DU, 16:54.70
35. Brittany Perkins, WSC, 18:27.58
37. Mary Matthews, WSC, 19:07.04
38. Heidi Lovett, WSC, 21:01.58.