March 9, 2007
Men’s 20K Freestyle Results
Women’s 15K Freestyle Results
The University of New Mexico ski team jumped up one spot to eighth at the 2007 NCAA Championships behind an All-American performance from freshman Polina Ermoshina. The Lobos improved their total to 253 points in the Nordic classic races. Dartmouth has a commanding lead with 511 points after six of eight events. Denver is in second place at 473 points, followed by Colorado (429) and Utah (426). The last time an eastern team won the NCAAs was Vermont in 1994.
Ermoshina, one of two Russians on the Lobos’ squad, placed sixth in the women’s 15K classic, crossing the line in 49:27.2. She earned UNM’s third All-American honor at this year’s NCAA Championships, joining men’s Alpine skiers Lars Loeseth and Tor Fodnesbergene. Northern Michigan’s Lindsay Weier won the event in 47:21.0, one second ahead of teammate Lindsay Williams. NMU swept the top-3 spots with Morgan Smyth placing third in 48:11.4. Sophomore Melanie Zemp (52:50.4) and junior Laura Van Alst (58:04.6) also skied for UNM today, placing 26th and 39th, respectively.
The lone Lobo skiing in the men’s Nordic 20K classic was freshman Erlend Saetre. Saetre had his best race since the first event of the season, posting a 13th place finish with a time of 56:26.9. He was just over 17 seconds out of the top-10 and an All-American finish. Utah’s Snorri Einarsson won the event with a time of 55:06.0.
The NCAA Championships conclude tomorrow with the men’s and women’s slalom races at Attitash’s Bear Peak in Jackson, N.H. Racing begins at 7:00 a.m. (M.S.T.) with the women’s slalom first run. It will also be the end of the 37-year career of UNM head coach George Brooks, who is retiring following the 2007 season.