February 25, 2013 – Colorado captured its 12th RMISA/West Regional title in the 23 years that Richard Rokos as served as the program’s head coach, and its 23rd overall in the 60-plus year history of the conference.  Under Rokos, the Buffaloes have now won 60 of 139 meets they have skied in, which also includes six NCAA titles, and have finished second anther 45 times.

For the second straight day, Colorado’s women’s Nordic team posted a 1-2-3 sweep, this time in the 15-kilometer freestyle race, duplicating the effort in Friday’s 5k classical event.  Prior to Friday, Colorado had not recorded a 1-2-3 sweep in women’s Nordic action since the sport went coed in 1983; with Saturday’s accomplishment, it matched the number of times Buff skiers had done in all other disciplines (two, once in men’s Nordic and in women’s alpine).

Women’s Race

Senior Eliska Hajkova won for the first time this year, marking the first time in CU history that three different women’s Nordic skiers have captured races in the same season, joining senior Joanne Reid (eight wins) and freshman Maria Nordstroem (one).  Hajkova’s eighth career victory (third in freestyle) also allowed CU skiers to win all 10 RMISA women’s cross country races this winter, another school first.

Eliska Hajkova © Herb Swanson

Hajkova led the pack of 27 skiers in the mass start format in a time of 51:25.7, with Reid next in at 51:40.2 and then Nordstroem in 51:45.9; the first non-Buff was Utah’s Rose Kemp, who crossed the finish line some 37 seconds later.  The only “downside” to this was that Hajkova ended her teammate Reid’s string of seven consecutive wins, tied for the second longest in any discipline in Buff history.

“I wanted it so much today,” Hajkova said.  “I had prefect skis.  I was rested and my skis went so fast.  On the last uphill, I just felt like I should try, so I did and it worked.  It feels great when you’re at the end of the second lap and it’s just your teammates and friends around you.  Sometimes when people get away from the main pack, they slow down and rest, but we worked really hard to make it a bigger gap, and I’m so proud of all of us.”

“I was thinking that we should keep a gap as a team,” Reid said.  “I was in the lead on the final lap until the final uphill, which isn’t smart if you want to win a race, but we went 1-2-3, so it was worth it.  It’s pretty perfect for us to all get podiums again, and helps our confidence going to NCAA’s.”

“We thought our biggest competition would be from the Alaska Anchorage girl Marine (Dusser),” Nordstroem said.  “When she started falling back, I started pulling ahead on the flats.  But then I was struggling, so my teammates took over and it was awesome.  I’m a little relieved, the more you win in a row the more nervous you get and I’ve always said I want us to go 1-2-3 more than me winning, so I’m so happy right now.”

And with senior Mary Rose coming in eighth in 52:46.8, it marked the fourth time this winter four CU skiers, and the only four on the roster this year, finished in the top 10.  It was Rose’s sixth career top 10 effort, all coming in her last 13 collegiate races, as she is one of the most improved skiers from freshman to senior seasons in school history.

Men’s Race

Senior Miles Havlick took home his second career RMISA title in the men’s 20-km freestyle and three other Utes were among the top three as the University of Utah ski team remained in control of second place at the NCAA West Region/RMISA Championships.

Miles Havlick © Herb Swanson

Colorado sophomore Rune Oedegaard took second, less than three seconds back in 58:38.2; the two finished in reverse order from Friday’s classic result.

In addition to Havlick’s victory, the Utes posted a pair of runner-up finishes in the giant slalom races as well as a third-place effort in the men’s 20-km Freestyle event. The Utes enter the final day of competition in second place in overall team standings with a total of 625 points, while Colorado remains atop the team standings.

“Today ranks right up there as one of my most memorable days as a coach,” Utah Director of Skiing Kevin Sweeney said. “Conditions were challenging with much new snow in the morning, however everyone charged and we put up some very excellent team points and also secured several NCAA Championship slots. This is what I really wanted to see as we get this close to the NCAA Championships. The team is skiing exceptionally well and we have very strong leadership and camaraderie. A couple of mistakes, bad luck and illnesses have prevented us from scoring or absolute best, but I am optimistic these will be under control for Vermont. My staff also did an outstanding job this weekend, so kudos to them for their hard work and commitment to the whole team. I’m very excited for the alpine team in slalom tomorrow!”

Four Utah skiers were among the top five of the men’s 20-km Freestyle race as the Utes racked up a meet-high 135 points in the event. Havlick was in first place for his sixth victory of the year and the 12th of his career. The Boulder, Colo., native has been third or better eight times in 2013 and 27 times during his career.

“I am ecstatic about our team performance today,” Havlick said. “It was amazing looking back during the race and seeing Einar [Ulsund], Niklas [Persson], and Noe [Bellet] right behind me. It is rare to have a team as consistently strong as this one. Now is the time to rest and recover and focus on ending the collegiate season with our best races of the year!”

Ulsund registered his fourth straight third-place run to join Havlick on the podium. He has now been on the podium nine times in 2013.

Persson rounded out Utah’s scoring effort as he placed fourth for his best finish of the season. His previous best finishes were sixth-place efforts in the 15-km Classical on Jan. 20 at the Denver Invitational and in the 20-km Freestyle on Feb. 9 in the Utah Invite.

Bellet was the fourth Ute among the top five as he placed fifth. He has now finished fifth or better in two competitions this season.

“What a way to wrap up the RMISA season!,” Utah Head Nordic coach Abi Holt said. “It was a quintessential Bozeman blizzard out there this morning, with whiteout conditions and snow blowing sideways. Those kind of conditions shift the Nordic ski race away from being a strictly physical event, and add an intensely mental component. You have to be tough on all fronts to succeed in an event like today’s race, so I am extra pleased with today’s success.

“I could not be more proud to see our men turn in the 1, 3, 4, 5 showing that they had today.  Miles, Einar, Niklas, and Noe have pushed one another all season, and they have all played a role in the group’s success. It was very satisfying to watch them finish that race as I view them in training– as a unified team of strong skiers. I am truly looking forward to seeing how this men’s team will fare at the NCAA Championships.

Full results HERE.