WINTER PARK, Colo. - In the sunshine of Winter Park, Denver freshman Espen Lysdahl (Asker, Norway) recorded the top Pioneers finish on the day in the giant slalom races. Lysdahl placed fifth, narrowly missing the podium for the day's race.

Sophomore Sterling Grant (Amery, Wis.) was the top women's finisher for the Crimson and Gold racing to a ninth-place finish. Freshmen Devin Delaney (North Conway, N.H.) and Mariaelena Rizzieri (Verona, Italy) tied for 13th on the day.

For the Pioneer men, freshmen Luke Laidlaw (Melbourne, Australia) and Max Marno (Steamboat Springs Colo.) placed eighth. Trevor Philp (Calgary, Alberta) finished 12th and 13th, respectively. Sophomore Charlie Reynolds (Park City, Utah) cracked the top-20 with his 15th place finish.

Denver scored 184 points on the day. The Pioneers trail first-place Utah (240), Colorado (219) and Alaska-Anchorage (192). New Mexico (153), Westminster College (153), Montana State (142) and Colorado Mountain College (35) closed out the standings after the first-day of the Denver Invitational.   

Utah's Nick Cohee and Tii-Maria Romar placed first on the day.

The DU Invitational continues tomorrow with the slalom races. The Nordic portion of the Invitational will take place next weekend at Devil's Thumb Ranch.