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Freshman Eva Huckova is tearing up the slopes
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Jan. 17, 2008
THIS WEEK:
Utah heads to Snow Mountain Ranch, Colo. for the Colorado Invitational Nordic races Jan. 19-20. The alpine portion of the invitational was held Jan. 5-6 in Steamboat Springs, with host CU holding the overall lead (278 points) after the downhill events. Utah is currently fourth (242 points).
LAST WEEK:
The Skiin' Utes ended a five-year drought by winning the Utah Invitational in Park City Jan. 11-12 with 585.5 total points. Denver University finished second with 550 points. Utah's previous team win came at the 2003 NCAA Championships in Hannover, N.H. The `03 Utes also took the NCAA West Regional and the Montana State Invitational.
Snorri Einarsson and Eva Huckova led the team throughout the weekend. Einarsson finished first in the 15K Freestyle and notched a seventh-place finish in the 20K Classic despite having the flu. Newcomer Huckova turned in the most notable performances of the weekend, placing first in GS and third in slalom. Fellow frosh Kjersti Boe, competing in only her second college event, finished second in the in the 15K Classic and fourth in the 10K Freestyle. Tague Thorson, who swept both the GS and slalom at the 2007 Utah Invitational, turned in two fourth-place finishes.
UTE NOTES:
Utah's victory Jan. 11-12 was its first since 2003, though the team has enjoyed 11 podium finishes since its title run. The Utes have finished second four times and third seven times since 2003 ... With his win in the 15K Freestyle Saturday, Snorri Einarsson picked up his third collegiate victory. In 2007 Einarsson won the 15K Classic at the Denver Invitational and the 20K Classic at the NCAA Championships ... The men's GS got off to an unsettling start, as Denver University's Adam Cole suffered a serious leg injury. The Park City native is among the top RMISA racers and competed alongside Utah's Tague Thorson in the 2007 World University Games in Torino, Italy ... Utah totaled an impressive 25 top-10 finishes over the weekend. The alpine skiers recorded 11 top-10 finishes as well as six finishes in the top five. The Nordic team notched nine top-10 finishes and five finishes in the top five.
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QUOTING HEAD ALPINE COACH Jaka Korencan:
"The whole weekend went extremely well. The entire team was phenomenal. We had at least three competitors in the top-13 in every race. Several individuals did a tremendous job. The energy we have as a team is unbelievable. Team cohesiveness is at an all-time high. Everyone his helping each other and cheering everyone on, and we hope to reach our goal of getting everyone to the level they are capable of skiing at."
