Both University of Wyoming Nordic ski club teams are in first place after Wednesday's competition at the United States Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association (USCSA) Nationals at Devil's Thumb Ranch near Frisco, Colo.
The Cowboys have been the team leaders since the competition opened earlier in the week. During the recent race, Jackson's Dan Lewis, a senior, captured his second straight individual national title by taking the 8.5km classic race.
Teammates Evgeniy Panzhinskiy, senior from Russia, and freshman Eliah Pedersen of Lander were second and third, respectively. Also finishing in the top 10 were Casper Junior John Kirlin, Lander Junior Jacob Peterson and Casper freshman Matt Hall.
With UW taking the top three positions in the race, the Cowboys have widened their overall lead over runner-up St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn.
"The men are pretty untouchable at this point," says UW Coach Christi Boggs, an Outreach School lecturer.
The Cowgirls moved into first place overtaking Whitman College after four team members placed in the top 10 in the women's classic race.
Jackson freshman Gracey Lewis led the UW women with a third place finish, and taking fifth and sixth, respectively, were Kari Boroff, senior, Daniel, and Laramie junior Gwynn Barrows. Casper freshman Morgan Cropsey took 10th.
The UW women now own an eight-point cushion against Whitman College.
"The University of Wyoming men and women have never won the national championship the same year," Boggs says. "With the men and women leading right now, it's looking pretty good for us."
Competition resumes Friday with the 15km mass start race.
Posted on Wednesday, March 04, 2009
