UW Men's Nordic Ski Team Overall National Leaders at Halfway Point

March 8, 2006 -- The University of Wyoming men's Nordic ski team is in first place halfway through the United States Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association (USCSA) championships in Sugarloaf, Maine.

The Cowboys for the first time ever won a race at nationals, taking the 15 kilometer (km) classic men's race Wednesday afternoon. No times were available. Coupled with its second place in Tuesday's 1.5 km sprint, the UW men are the overall leaders with a team-low 31 points, followed by Cornell University with 35 and Clarkson College (Potsdam, N.Y.) has 43.

"With just two races to go they've taken the lead overall," says UW coach Christi Boggs, technology coordinator for the UW College of Education. "They're pumped and ready to go."

The final two races are an 8.5km skate interval start beginning Friday and Saturday's 3x5km relay. Thursday is an off day for all competitors.

After two races, the UW women have 25 points, which would also put them in first place in the overall standings. However, Boggs says, the women's points for Wednesday's race are pending because of a protest and the final results are uncertain.

The Cowboys took the 15km men's classic by scoring 12 points, while Clarkson College was the runner-up with 18 points and Cornell had 22.

Individually, Lander's Joe Howdyshell had the best finish among his UW teammates with a fourth place showing. Lander teammate Riley Hopeman was one place behind and Casper's Justin Daraie placed sixth. Other results had Brian Sebade 11th, Collin McRann 12th, Josh Peterson 13th, all from Lander; and Adam Alspach of Casper placed 20th.

In the men's 1.5km sprint, Daraie placed fifth, followed by Hopeman seventh; Howdyshell 10th; Alspach 14th; Peterson 15th; Sebade 16th; and McRann 23rd.

Cornell won the race with a team-low 13 points, UW scored 19 and Clarkson College 25.

The UW women also won the 15km sprint with 10 team points; Clarkson College was the runner-up with 17; and Cornell had 22. UW's top skier, Kari Boroff, Daniel, was national runner-up. Erin Hammer, Lander, placed eighth, followed by Aubree Haffey, Pinedale, ninth; twin sisters Katie and Liz Turner, Chugiak, Alaska, placed 11th and 12th, respectively; Melissa Gangl, Casper, 14th; and Ava Bell, Laramie, 17th.

In the women's 1.5 sprint, St. Olaf College (Northfield, Minn.) led the way with a team-low nine points, the UW Cowgirls were runners-up with 15 and Clarkson College scored 25.

Individually for the UW women, Liz Turner placed fourth to lead the Cowgirls followed by Boroff, sixth; Katie Turner, eighth; Haffey, 10th; Hammer, 14th; Gangl, 15th; and Bell, 17th.

Photo

Nordic Nationals -- Joe Howdyshell, right, finished fourth during Wednesday's 15km classic race at the United States Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association championships in Sugarloaf, Maine. His UW teammate, Justin Daraie, placed sixth. (UW Photo)

Posted on Thursday, March 09, 2006