Spets Nets Top-10 Result in Classical Sprints
UAA Invitational Results thru 4 Events
KINKAID PARK, Ak. — You know you are in Alaska when a Nordic race is a classical sprint. The non-traditional race was held in lieu of a regular classical race, and although the results didn’t favor UNM per se, a change in format was fun for all. It also sets up that actual RMISA classical race on November 22, also in Alaska. Overall UNM remained in fourth place.
Classical sprints are run in heats, and then eventually heats are used to eliminate skiers until a final round of six skiers. However, the results are a mix of placements and times. Generally, the only time an RMISA meet with run a sprint is in Alaska, where the sprints are more prevalent.
For the women, the unique race turned out well for Julie Spets, who recorded her first top 10 result, coming in 10th. She scored a career-best 21 points for New Mexico. Brenna Egan, who had her first career top 10 in Alaska in the sprint race last year, was 23rd and scored 14 points. Savanna Fassio, the only other Lobo skier with a top-10 mark this season, was UNM’s third scorer with 11 points, coming in 28th. Dariya Kuznetsova, in just her second classical race of the season, finished 30th.
On the men’s side, Kornelius Grøv finished fifth in the sprints, scoring 29 points. Grøv was coming off a fourth straight freestyle win yesterday. Ricardo Izquierdo-Bernier missed the top ten for the first time this season, coming in 13th place and soring 19 points. He was followed by Johan Eirik Meland, who was 17th and scored 15 points. Ben Berend was the Lobo non-scorer, coming in 40th.
All skiers have the day off on Tuesday before the Nordic portion of the NCAA West Region/RMISA Championships begin on Wednesday with in Palmer, Alaska at Government Peak with the men’s 10k freestyle and the women’s 5k freestyle. The men’s race will be at 1 pm Mountain Time and the women’s race will be at 2 pm, and both will be interval starts.
The alpine events for the UAA Invitational begin Thursday, February 21 with the giant slalom, starting at noon Mountain.