STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo.—The host Colorado Buffaloes are in the lead at the halfway point of their own 2024 Spencer James Nelson CU Invitational following a full day of action on Friday. The first day of the Buffs' home meet saw both alpine and Nordic in competition and featured Colorado skiers recording two individual wins and 13 top-10 finishes, including all 12 scorers.
Alpine took to the giant slalom course at Steamboat Resort's Mount Werner while Nordic competed across town in the interval 7.5K freestyle at Howelsen Hill Ski Area.
Colorado leads the meet with 350.5 points, but there are three other teams within 100 points. Denver is second and 23.5 points behind with 327 points, while Utah is third with 285.5 points. Montana State is 89.5 points back of the Buffaloes with 261 points.
Alaska Anchorage rounds out the top five with 210 points and is followed by Westminster in sixth (111), Alaska Fairbanks in seventh (110), Nevada (62) and Colorado Mountain College (44).
Both of CU's individual wins came in the women's events as Anna-Maria Dietze was victorious in the Nordic 7.5K freestyle while Magdalena Luczak garnered gold in the giant slalom, one day after placing on the podium in the alpine GS qualifier.
A pair of Denver Pioneers picked up the other two individual wins. Cooper Cornelius earned his first collegiate victory in the men's giant slalom and Andreas Kirkeng won his second race of the season in the men's 7.5K freestyle.
The Pioneers also had a consistent day, as they picked up five total podiums, seven finishers in the top 10 and 13 in the top 15.
Despite being a bit shorthanded on the Nordic side, Utah finished second in the women's cross country team event and picked up the second-most points in the two alpine races. Overall, the Utes had nine top-10 finishes and two podiums.
The Colorado Invite concludes on Saturday with another full day of alpine and Nordic races at Howelsen Hill. The Women's and men's 20K classic is in the morning, while the afternoon and evening will be reserved for the alpine slalom at the ski area.
TEAM STANDINGS (through 4-of-8 events): 1. Colorado 350.5; 2. Denver 327; 3. Utah 285.5; 4. Montana State 261; 5. Alaska Anchorage 210; 6. Westminster 111; 7. Alaska Fairbanks 110; 8. Nevada 62; 9. Colorado Mountain College 44.
MEN'S 7.K FREESTYLE TOP 10 (30 finishers): 1. Andreas Kirkeng, DU, 19:35.2; 2. Florian Knopf, DU, 19:43.4; 3. Hugo Hinkfuss, CU, 19:57.2; 4. Magnus Boee, CU, 19:58.4; 5. Will Koch, CU, 20:01.4; 6. Johannes Flaaten, CU, 20:03.3; 7. Tom Mancini, UU, 20:08.1; 8. Kai Meyers, MSU, 20:12.2; 9. Fredrik Nilsen, MSU, 20:13.8; 10. Krystof Zatloukal, DU, 20:23.0.
WOMEN'S 7.K FREESTYLE TOP 10 (35 finishers): 1. Anna-Maria Dietze, CU, 22:36.1; 2. Sydney Palmer-Leger, UU, 22:54.0; 3. Tilde Baangman, MSU, 23:11.7; 4. Astrid Stav, UAA, 23:15.9; 5. Hanna Ray, DU, 23:21.4; 6. Karianne Dengerud, UU, 23:28.4; 7. Mariel Pulles, UAF, 23:28.4; 8. Weronika Kaleta, CU, 23:32.8; 9. Kate Oldham, MSU, 23:36.1; 10. Hanna Abrahamsson, CU, 23:39.6.
MEN'S GIANT SLALOM TOP 10 (42 finishers): 1. Cooper Cornelius, DU, 1:55.51; 2. Trey Seymour, DU, 1:56.30; 3. Leon Nikic, UAA, 1:56.38; T4. Etienne Mazellier, CU, 1:56.45; T4. Louis Fausa, CU, 1:56.46; 6. Mikkel Solbakken, UU, 1:56.57; 7. Raphael Lessard, UU, 1:56.79; T8. Gustav Voello, UU, 1:57.07; T8. Filip Wahlqvist, CU, 1:57.07; 10. Jeremie Lagier, WMU, 1:57.17.
WOMEN'S GIANT SLALOM TOP 10 (31 finishers): 1. Magdalena Luczak, CU, 1:51.02; 2. Madison Hoffman, UU, 1:51.06; 3. Sara Rask, DU, 1:51.12; 1:51.12; 4. Justine Lamontagne, MSU, 1:51.88; 5. Kaja Norbye, UU, 1:52.26; 6. Emma Hammergaard, CU, 1:52.45; 7. Hannah Saethereng, WMU, 1:52.63; 8. Denise Dingsleder, CU, 1:52.79; 9. Claire Timmermann, UU, 1:52.93; 10. Evelina Fredricsson, WMU, 1:53.03.
| Date | Race |
|---|---|
| Feb. 2 | Women's 7.5K Freestyle |
| Feb. 2 | Women's Giant Slalom |
| Feb. 2 | Men's 7.5K Freestyle |
| Feb. 2 | Men's Giant Slalom |
| Feb. 3 | Women's 20K Classic |
| Feb. 3 | Women's Slalom |
| Feb. 3 | Men's 20K Classic |
| Feb. 3 | Men's Slalom |