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Show Montfaf.Marcllt.1994 - Chronicle Sports Special issue Skiin' Utes finish second to Vermont at NCAAs ing into second place (with Vermont dropping to third) after the third day slalom races. "It was a strange day," alpine coach Gord Perry said. "We were very close to having a banner day until the women ran into a little difficulty (three Ute racers fell). Our women skied well and they went out fighting. That's slalom." The Utes went into Saturday's competition with a lead over lead over New Mexico and a it Vermont, but wasn't enough. The Catamounts not only eclipsed the Ute lead but added 21 more to boot. The final results had Vermont with 688 points followed by Utah (667). New Mexico (659). Colorado (628). (443). Middlebury College (465) Alaska-Anchora- SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE All year long the Ute ski team held off their competitors from taking the nation's position from them. top-rank- ed They held off opponents throughout the regular season, even after losses at the New Mexico Invitational and regional championships. Utah even held off challengers three of the four days of competition at the 1994 NCAA Ski Championships in Sugarloaf. Maine. What they couldn't hold off on the last day of the meet was a strong charge from Vermont in the freestyle portion of the nordic competition. As a result, Utah was forced to relinquish their lead, and the national title to the Catamounts. The Utes led the competition after the first three days thanks to Christl Hager's giant slalom win on day one, Havard Solbakken's 10K classical win on day two and Louis Francois Gagnon's slalom win on day three. Though the Utes were garnering the individual titles, maintaining the lead wasn't easy. Utah owned a nine-poimargin over Colorado after the first day and found Vermont in their rear view mirror at sixth place. But director of Skiing Pat Miller knew that Vermont's nordic races were something to be reckoned with. Indeed. The Catamounts returned for the second day of competition, moving up four spots after placing six skiers in the top ten of the classical competition. In that day alone, Vermont made up 38 points. The Utes then reasserted themselves, as did New Mexico, by mov 31-poi- nt 36-poi- nt ge University of Denver (438), New Hampshire (381). Northern Michigan (353). Dartmouth (350). Western State (339) and Williams (204). While Vermont's men made a strong showing in the last event, it was their women's squad that dominated. Nina Hamilton and teammate Karianne Opgard finished first and second respectively in the 15K race. They were followed by fellow Catamounts Ivana Radlova (10th) and Astri Syse (14th). In contrast, Ulrika Svenstedt, Utah's top woman finished 23rd. Ingvil Snofugl, Eva Segerstedt, and Anne Sofie Broers finished 26th, 31st and 38th respectively. On the men's side, Solbakken finished third along with teammates Sten Grahn (12th) Marcus Nash (14th) and Peter Klofutar (27th). nt "We kept charging even when we had a bad event," Miller said. "We knew it would be difficult on the last day." Even so. Miller didn't know how difficult. At the start of the race, a skier in front of Klofutar fell, and out of the gate Nash broke a ski. After having the ski replaced, Nash ran into more bad luck when another competitor hit and broke his pole. "These aren't excuses," said Miller. "They are simply facts. We had some bad luck." New Mexico's Niklas Skoglund won the 20K race followed by Northern Michigan's Pete Vordenberg. Vermont's Aki Partenan. Trong Nystadt. Knut Nystadt and Chris Hinderman were the core of the squad that finished off the Utes, placing fourth, seventh, 20th, and 28th. k titles in The loss kept Utah from earning the '90s (they won two in a row in 1983-8- 4 and three in a but that doesn't have Miller all that row from 1986-88- ) upset. "We kept charging; it is. not a complete downer. It is hard to win in the east," Miller said. The Utes battled sleet, heavy snow and icy conditions in the first three days of competition, conditions which Vermont has been used to all season long. back-to-bac- But even with clear conditions and the sun out Saturday, the Utes couldn't hold back Vermont. "Some of our skiers did well," said Miller in reference to his athletes who didn't run upon hard times. "Some are not happy with their performances, but that's the way it goes." Shouldn't You Be Studying? Jp"1 PM I A CDICI'n IIIM. Wllll.IUI.il, IMUN I IIIMWI VJIICII fHHNYII'C v r ' V OR GET A RIDE WITH A STRAKGER. Drinking and riding can lead to a loss of license, a conviction, or even worse. That's if you're lucky. The fact is, 50 of motorcycle fatalities involve riders who have been drinking. So if you have been drinking, get a ride Vuy with a friend. It's the best call you can make. MOTORCYCLE SAFETY FOUNDATlorUfe rj7 I : The University of Utah Women's Club is offering a 00 $1,2 women. to Scholarship qualified 1 1 1 J.Ann ications c- - forms available at: Financial AidScholarships SSB 105 Women's Resource Center OUB 275 Disabled Student Services OUB 160 $irp (amy; 0mm jfef Deadline: March 18, 1994 For further information call: 7 3 or 582-921- 582-240- |