Jan. 18, 2003

Bozeman, MT - The three-time defending national champion University of Denver ski team came away from the Montana State University Invitational with 518 points and a third-place finish this afternoon. The Pioneers have recorded their second consecutive third-place finish after taking third at the Alaska-Utah Winter Games with 502 points.

The Denver men took three top-15 finishes and the women another two in this afternoon's action. Sophomore Amund Hansen (Aarnes, Norway) led the men with a fourth place finish in the 15K freestyle with a time of 38:59.1, which was a mere second behind third. Coming in at 10th place was freshman Martin Bartnes (Bartnes, Norway) with a time of 39:56.2. Also receiving points for the Pioneers was senior Dylan Prosser (Anchorage, Alaska) who clinched 13th with a time of 40:36.6.

Paving the way for the women's team was junior Karin Camenisch (Klosters, Switzerland) who earned eighth place in the 10K free with a time of 29:37.7. Rounding out the scoring Denver was sophomore Tara Hamilton (Anchorage, Alaska) who came out on top of a close battle for 13th with a time of 30:46.1.

Next for the Pioneers in their quest for a four-peat will be the Colorado Invitational which will run from Jan. 31-Feb.1 at Lake Eldora, Colo.

Final Standings

1. Utah			575.5
2. Colorado		538
3. Denver		518
4. New Mexico		481
5. Nevada		399.5
6. Alaska-Anchorage	364
7. Western State	304
8. Whitman		257
9. Montana State	140

Denver Results

Women's 10K Freestyle: 8. Karin Camenisch 29:38.7; 13. Tara Hamilton 30:46.1.
Men's 15K Freestyle: 4. Amund Hansen 38:59.1; 10. Martin Bartnes 39:56.2; 13. Dylan Prosser 40:36.6; 17. August Teague 41:11.9; 18. Jack Gervais 41:54.3.