KETCHUM, Idaho—Utah compiled five of the six podium positions Saturday to take a commanding lead at the Montana State Invitational, held here in conjunction with the Sun Valley Nordic Invitational.
Sophia Laluki won the women's 5K freestyle race with teammates Novie McCabe taking second and Sydney Palmer-Leger taking third. Colorado's Hanna Abrahamsson took fourth and Alaska Fairbanks's Mariel Pulles rounded out the top five.
On the men's side, Denver's Bernhard Flaschberger won the race, coming in some 50 seconds faster than any other college skier. Utah did go 2-3 with Walker Hall taking second and Sam Hendry third. Colorado's Magnus Boee and Alaska Fairbanks Joe Davies rounded out the top five.
The Utes scored a perfect 111 points in the women's race and added 93 in the men's race for a total of 204. They hold a 64 point lead over Alaska Fairbanks (140) in second place while Colorado is just one point back with 139.
Nordic action concludes Sunday, culminating two-and-a-half weeks of racing from the Nordic teams to open the season. Tuesday the alpine teams get underway.
| Date | Race |
|---|---|
| Jan. 15 | Women's 5K Freestyle |
| Jan. 15 | Men's 10K Freestyle |
| Jan. 16 | Women's 10K Classical |
| Jan. 16 | Men's 15K Classical |
| Jan. 18 | Women's Giant Slalom |
| Jan. 18 | Men's Giant Slalom |
| Jan. 19 | Women's Slalom |
| Jan. 19 | Men's Slalom |