For the third time in as many meets, the Utah ski team finished fourth this weekend at the New Mexico Invitational.
Despite two podium finishes, including a third by junior Eva Huckova, the Utes failed to break into the top three. Finishing ahead of the Utes was host New Mexico, followed by Colorado and Denver.
The alpine team led the Utes in day one with four top-10 finishes between the men and women combined. Senior Kyle Kung picked up his first 2010 podium finish when he finished third in the men’s giant slalom, followed by Thomas Zumbrunn in fifth, Max Lamb in 11th and Nick Cohee in 14th.
For the women, junior Sofia Smith had the best race of her Utah career by finishing fifth in the women’s giant slalom ahead of Huckova, who finished eighth.
“I am really excited about Sofia,” said Eli Brown, director of skiing. “Since she worked so hard in the offseason. She is really due this finish.”
On day two, Huckova earned a second-place finish in the women’s slalom to earn her third podium finish in six races this season. Huckova has yet to finish outside the top 10 in a race this season.
Leading the men in the slalom was Torjus Krogdahl, who finished fourth. The only other Ute to break the top 10 was Zumbrunn, at ninth.
“All in all, it was a tough weekend,” Brown said. “It was hard on the Nordic team racing at such high altitude, and the flat hill was tough on the alpiners. I am glad we can have an off-weekend to regroup and get fired up for the last half of the season. I have a lot of confidence in our talent and am really excited for the team and the second half of the season coming up.”
The Utes are now off until Feb. 19, when they will travel to Nevada to take part in the Nevada Invitational.
“We are almost halfway to the NCAA Championships,” Brown said. “Now, more than ever, our talent needs to come out, and we will start skiing more consistently and strong, building up to giving our best in March.”
The Utes have only three more events to prepare for the NCAA Championships in the second week of March.
b.chouinard@chronicle.utah.edu
Be the first to comment on this article!