Jan. 20, 2012
DU Invitational Results As of Day Three — Nordic Classical
The University of New Mexico Nordic skiers competed in the classical style 10K and 5K races as part of day three of the four-day University of Denver Invitational at Devil’s Thumb Ranch in Tabernash, Colo.
The Lobos sit in fifth place overall with 534 points. Utah leads all nine teams with 694 points. Colorado has 622 points and Denver has 570 to round out the top-three teams.
The women’s Nordic team finished fourth with 88 points.
Linn Klaesson was the first Lobo to cross the finish line, placing seventh and finishing the 5K classical in 22:43. Also finishing in the top ten was Anni Nord who recorded a time of 22:53.3 to claim ninth place. The third UNM skier to finish was Clara Chauvet, who placed 24th with a time of 24:18.
“Linn had a really good classical race,” head coach Fredrik Landstedt said. “It was her best-ever finish at seventh, beating her tenth-place finish from the last meet. Anni Nord had her best race this year by finishing ninth.”
New Mexico men’s Nordic team finished sixth with a score of 85.
The Lobos were paced by Sjur Prestseater, who placed tenth overall and completed the 10K classical in 38:37.2. Christian Otto followed Prestseater, finishing 20th with a time of 40:09.9. Pierre Niess completed the race in 40:22.2 and placed 22nd.
“Sjur Prestseater had a very good race; it was a very tight race,” Landstedt said. “He was able to finish strong at the end. Christian, too had a good race today.
“Pierre Niess had his first race this year. He hadn’t raced since last February, so hopefully this can just be a start for him and he will get better with time.”
Overall, Landstedt said the Lobos had an, “okay day.”
“I’m hoping we’ll do a little bit better tomorrow and move on from there,” he added.
Saturday is the final day of the DU Invitational and will feature the men’s and women’s Nordic freestyle races.
The Alpine portion of the DU Invite was held last weekend, Saturday, Jan. 14 and Sunday, Jan. 15. At the conclusion of last weekend’s events, the Lobos were in fourth place.
DU Invitational Team Scores–1. Utah 694; 2. Colorado 622; 3. Denver 570; 4. Alaska Anchorage 553; 5. New Mexico 534; 6. Montana State 459; 7. Westminster 346; 8. Wyoming 120; 9. Colorado Mountain College 87
Friday, Jan. 20
Nordic Classical Women’s 5K
7. Linn Klaesson, UNM, 22:43; 9. Anni Nord, UNM, 22:53.3; 24. Clara Chauvet, UNM, 24:18; 29. Anita Kirvesneimi, UNM, 25:45.6 31. Anniken Bratlie, UNM, 26:24
Nordic Classical Men’s 10K
10. Sjur Prestseater, UNM, 38.37.2; 20. Eivind Solberg, UNM, 44:33.9
Saturday, Jan. 14
Women’s Giant Slalom
7. Stefanie Demetz, UNM, 2:01.66; 30. Mary Rachel Hostetter, UNM, 2:18.79; DNF Kate Williams, UNM
Men’s Giant Slalom 3. Juho Pekka Penttinnen, UNM; DNF Mark Miller, UNM; DNF Joonas Rasanen, UNM
Sunday, Jan. 15
Women’s Slalom
3. Stefanie Demetz, UNM, 1:30.45; 8. Mary Rachel Hostetter, UNM, 1:31.38; 25. Kate Williams, UNM, 1:52.01
Men’s Slalom
3. Juho Pekka Penttinnen, UNM, 1:28.24; 11. Joonas Rasanen, UNM, 1:28.65; 14. Chris Acosta, UNM, 1:28:97; 17, Mark Miller, UNM, 1:29:54; 19, Chriss Salbu, UNM, 1:29:72; 25, Sean Horner, UNM, 1:32:31; 30, Michael Bansmer, UNM, 1:40:66