PARK CITY/SOLDIER HOLLOW, Utah (Jan. 5) - The UAA ski team had a successful showing on Day 1 of the season-opening Utah Invitational today, claiming three top-3 performances, including
Mandy Kaempf's runaway victory, to stand fifth overall after four events.
The Seawolves recorded 223 team points finishing 13 points shy of fourth-place New Mexico. Denver stands first with 283 points followed by Utah in second (259) and Colorado in third (245).
UAA's women's Nordic team took top honors in the 5K-classical by placing two racers in the top-5. Three-time All-American Mandy Kaempf dominated the field with a winning time of 16:25.0, finishing 48.8 seconds faster than her nearest competitor. Senior Sarah Hansen placed fourth (17:55.8) and sophomore Davya Baker finished 15th (18:29.2) giving the Seawolves 73 points in the event.
Other finishers for UAA were freshman Brittany Greer (16th, 18:31.4), junior Nicole DeYong (20th, 19:07.5) and freshman Kati Clark (37th, 21:57.4).
The men's Nordic squad was led by senior All-American Zach Violett's third-place finish in the 10K-classic with a time of 29:00.9. Newcomer's Benjamin Sonntag and Kjetil Dammen placed 10th (30:28.4) and 11th (30:30.2) helping UAA's men claim third overall in the event.
Junior Brent Knight finished 13th (31:05.0) and junior transfer Brian Gregg placed 20th (32:35.3).
The Alpine teams were paced by senior Andreas Neuhauser's career-best second-place finish in the men's giant slalom. Neuhauser recorded a two-run total time of 2:06.35 on the 40 gate course, finishing .24 seconds out of first. Junior Dave Duncan also garnered points for UAA by placing 20th (2:10.00). Sophomore Marius Elvrum and junior Christian Ringvold each fell on their first run and did not finish.
Senior Julie-Pierre Leclerc was UAA's top women's finish in the Alpine events with an 11th -place showing in the slalom (1:46.41). Junior Jessica Hamilton placed 29th (1:54.67) and freshman Daniela Anguita finished 51st (2:27.51) despite falling on her second run.
The Utah Invitational will conclude Thursday with the men's and women's freestyle events, the men's slalom and women's giant slalom.
