RED RIVER/TAOS, N.M. ? Anchored by a trio of top-10 performances from its men, the Alaska Anchorage ski team glided its way to a fourth place team finish after the first day of events here today at the New Mexico Invitational.
The Seawolves amassed 226.5 points through four of eight events, 21.5 behind third place New Mexico. Colorado leads the overall team standings with 304.5 followed by Denver in the runner up spot with 291. Rounding out the top 5 is Nevada at 224.
Junior Jonathan Hverven produced a team-best third-place effort in the men's giant slalom, clocking a two-run time of 1:53.30 on the 38-gate course at Taos Ski Valley. The result was his second podium finish of the season and tied for the top result of his UAA career.
Junior Raphael Wunderle skied to his seventh consecutive top-10 finish of the season by claiming a team-best eighth in the men's 10K classical. Wunderle, who stands fourth overall in the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association men's Nordic standings, recorded a time of 31:54.7 on the trails at the Enchanted Forest Nordic Center.
Continuing his recent string of solid outings was sophomore Andy Liebner, who finished 10th in the men's classical (32:02.0). The Soldotna product has earned top-10 results three of his last five races.
Also claiming a top-15 finish in the men's Nordic race was senior Paul Schauer, who placed 15th with a time of 32:34.1.
The men claimed third overall as a team in the event with 66 points.
UAA's women's Alpine squad also placed third in the event standings (58 points), led by senior Stefanie Klocker's season-best GS finish of 12th (1:50.74). Junior Kristina Repcinova, who recorded the field's fastest second-run time with the only sub 55 second reading (54.85), grabbed 14th overall for the Seawolves (1:50.84), while senior Smaranda Munteanu earned a 20th-place finish (1:51.42).
Hverven's second third-place result of the season, combined with freshman Ryan Wolosyn's career-best 15th-place finish (1:55.19) and freshman Jeff Crompton's 19th-pace effort (1:55.43), helped propel the men to fourth overall in the event. Wolosyn posted the fastest second-run time in the event by clocking a scorching 56.96.
Senior Brittany Greer recorded a season-best effort of 14th (19:48.6) in the women's 5K classical to lead the Seawolves. Sophomore Kelsey Coolidge claimed 20th (20:07.0) and freshman Hanna Johnson finished 22nd (20:24.6).
Colorado skiers claimed both women's individual titles with Kaite Hartman winning the GS (1:49.64) and Maria Grevsgaard the 5K Classic (17:33.1). Shane Collins of Nevada win the men's GS (1:52.63) and Denver's John Stene claimed the 10K classical (31:13.5).
The two-day meet concludes Saturday with the men's and women's freestyle and slalom races.
