WILMINGTON, N.Y. – The University of Denver ski team had a big push on the third day of the 2023 NCAA Championships in alpine slalom, and the Pioneers are just 11.5 points out of the lead heading into the final day of competition.
Denver secured the overall alpine championship on Friday at Whiteface Mountain Ski Area led by podium finishes by junior
Nora Brand and freshman
Sara Rask. The Pioneers totaled 233.5 points in the four alpine events, 8.5 more than second-place Westminster.
"The girls did what they did all year," said Denver Alpine Head Coach
Joonas Rasanen. "They've been skiing really well. It's great to see that they're doing well and smiling and doing what they do. Mia stepped up big time in the second run, and Nora and Sara continued to do what they do and held their positions. On the men's side, wanted to do a little more but had a couple second runs that got us some key points.
"We put the Nordies in a position for a championship tomorrow. It's going to be an exciting day, and we look forward to cheering them on."
The Pios entered the day 49 points off the lead but took advantage on the leaderboard after Colorado and Utah skiers had tough days on the technical slope. Utah (358) overtook Colorado (356.5) for the overall lead by just 1.5 points, but Denver is well within striking distance for Saturday's 20K Nordic classical race with 346.6 points garnered through six-of-eight events.
Brand (1:50.34) won silver in slalom on Friday to go along with her bronze from GS after she moved up from fourth following her first run. She bettered Rask by just two-hundredths of a season, as her Swedish teammate was third with a total time of 1:50.36.
"With Nora, we saw some glimpses of her slalom speed last spring, and I think adding Sara, with her smile and overall positive attitude has done miracles for Nora and the whole women's team," Rasanen said. "I'm super proud of Nora of where she is now after coming back from an injury a few years ago."
Freshman
Mia Hunt was one of the biggest movers in field from the first to second run, and she was a key component to the Pioneers' success in winning the alpine title and being in the hunt for the overall championship. The Park City, Utah, native earned 19 points for the crimson and gold by having the seventh-fastest second run and finishing 12th in a time of 1:52.90.
Utah's Madison Hoffman swept both alpine races at this year's national championships, as she took the top step for the second time after also winning giant slalom on Thursday. Hoffman finished in 1:49.37, nearly a second faster than Brand.
Denver's men had a tougher day than the women but still saw improvement from run 1 to run 2.
Graduate student
Simon Fournier moved up eight spots from 22nd to 14th with the third-fastest afternoon time, and freshman
Jack Bowers climbed up two positions to 22nd. Sophomore
Cooper Cornelius did not finish his second run.
Vermont had two skiers on the podium, with Mathias Tefre winning and Joachim Lindstol placing third. Utah's Wilhelm Normannseth was second, one of eight western skiers to finish in the to 15.
The Pioneers added two more All-American accolades to its total at these championships, as both Brand and Rask picked up their second first-team honors. DU's seven All-America awards are third-most at nationals and the team is tied for first among all schools with five first-team honors.
UP NEXT: The 2023 NCAA Championships conclude on Saturday with the men's and women's 20-kilometer classic races at Mt. Van Hoevenberg at the Olympic Sports Complex. Denver isn't fielding a full Nordic squad, but the team has several strong classical skiers that are capable of making up the 11.5 points for the Pioneers in the races. The women's event kicks off the day at 8 a.m. MT before the men wrap up the meet at 10 a.m. MT.
QUOTABLES
Denver Alpine Head Coach Joonas Rasanen
On the alpine team's success: "Just from where we started, we've come a long way as a group and as a unit. Everyone has taken a big step. Josephine [Trueblood] has being skiing well recently, and Mia has taken some big steps, especially today. We've done really good on the podium level, but we've stepped it up overall as a team. I know the boys have some really fast speeds in training. We'll go out and add a couple missing pieces, and we'll continue to compete for a championships for years to come."
On this season: "Overall, I'm really happy with the group and stoked for what we have and looking forward to the future. It's been a fun year and it's exciting to see us continue to take the next step as a program."
On freshman Sara Rask: "Sara came in and has overdelivered. We knew she was good, but she outdid expectations on the hill, in the gym and in the team environment. It's fun to see that you can have fun and succeed, and that is what we're trying to preach as a team and with our culture."
DENVER WOMEN GIANT SLALOM INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
7.
Nora Brand, 1:50.34 (56.27/54.07)
2.
Sara Rask, 1:50.36 (55.97/54.39)
12.
Mia Hunt, 1:52.90 (58.59/54.31)
DENVER MEN GIANT SLALOM INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
14.
Simon Fournier, 1:51.40 (55.24/56.16)
22.
Jack Bowers, 1:52.69 (55.47/57.22)
DNF:
Cooper Cornelius (55.75/DNF run 2)
TEAM STANDINGS (through 6-of-8 events): 1. Utah, 358.0; 2. Colorado, 356.5;
3. Denver, 346.5; 4. Montana State, 243.0; 5. Vermont, 239.0; 6. Westminster, 225.0; 7. Dartmouth, 204.5; 8. New Hampshire, 174.0; 9. Alaska Fairbanks, 150.0; 10. Middlebury, 146.0; 11. St. Michael's, 145.0; 12. Alaska Anchorage, 112.0; 13. Plymouth State, 104.0; 14. Michigan Tech, 60.0; 15. Colby, 46.0; 16. Harvard, 27.0; 17. St. Lawrence, 26.0; 18. Nevada, 21.0; 19. Northern Michigan, 8.5; 20. Bowdoin, St. Scholastica, Williams, 0.0.
WOMEN'S SLALOM TOP 10 (31 finishers): 1. Madison Hoffman, UU, 1:49.37;
2. Nora Brand, DU, 1:50.34; 3. Sara Rask, DU, 1:50.36; 4. Ella Bromee, UAA, 1:50.75; 5. Kristiane Bekkestad, MSU, 1:51.51; 6. Justine Lamontagne, MSU, 1:51.59; 7. Evelina Fredricsson, WMC, 1:51.61; 8. Emma Hammergaard, CU, 1:52.14; 9. Justine Clement, UVM, 1:52.44; 10. Denise Dingsleder, WMC, 1:52.69.
MEN'S SLALOM TOP 10 (31 finishers): 1. Mathias Tefre, UVM, 1:49.32; 2. Wilhelm Normannseth, UU, 1:50.11; 3. Joachim Lindstol, UVM, 1:50.38; 4. Mikkel Solbakken, WMC, 1:50.43; 5. Oscar Zimmer, DAR, 1:50.68; 6. Leon Nikic, UAA, 1:50.72; 7. Max Haussmann, PSU, 1:50.75; 8. Gianluca Boehm, MSU, 1:50.76; 9. Eirik Kveno, SMC, 1:50.98; 10. Henry Heaydon, MSU, 1:51.11.
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