UW Nordic Ski Team News
by University of Wyoming
February 1, 2006
(Laramie) Using the early portion of the season to tuneup for the United States Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association (USCSA) National Championships later this semester, the Wyoming Nordic ski teams competed in their final NCAA-sanctioned meet last weekend at the University of Colorado Invitational held at Steamboat.
"It was the most successful NCAA race we've had to date. Two of our athletes broke into the top 30 in the field," says UW coach Christi Boggs, technology coordinator for the UW College of Education.
A women's 5-kilometer and men's 10-km classic races were held Friday and women's 15-km and men's 20-km skate took place on Saturday.
Lander senior Riley Hopeman was 23rd among 50 starters in the 10-km classic and Kari Boroff, a Pinedale sophomore, placed 26th among 49 starters in the 5-km classic. Boroff was only eight seconds from making the top 20, Boggs says. Boroff also had her best finish in the skate race with a 31st place showing.
Combining the overall men's and women's points, UW placed ninth in a field of 11 teams.
"We're excited because our athletes are starting to believe they can ski with these (NCAA) athletes and are showing it," Boggs says. "If our athletes can beat anyone, then it's a success since at least the top five athletes on every other team are on scholarship. Kari and Riley would be among the top three members of eight of the 11 teams, making it possible for them to qualify for the NCAA championships."
Instead, the Cowboys and Cowgirls will get back to USCSA competition where they have dominated the last few years. The teams will compete at Leadville and Frisco, Colo., this weekend for their second USCSA competition of the season.
UW will host its own meet Feb. 11-12, featuring teams from the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Mountain College and Colorado School of Mines. Races at Pole Mountain Nordic Trails, off the Happy Jack road, are open to the public. Proceeds will help send UW teams to the USCSA nationals in Sugarloaf, Maine.
A UW Nordic team benefit dinner is planned Feb. 11 at 6 p.m. in the Laramie Junior High School cafeteria.
For more information, visit the team's web site at www.uwyo.edu/ski/cc06.htm
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