(Editor’s note: Courtesy of Montana State Athletics)
BOZEMAN — The Montana State men’s ski team had three racers place in the top ten during the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association’s second giant slalom qualifier of the season on Thursday afternoon at Bridger Bowl.
The RMISA qualifier does not count towards any team scoring and is used as an extra opportunity for skiers to earn qualification points for the NCAA Championships.
Bobcat freshman Åge Solheim paced the Bobcats placing third with a two-run clocking of 1:31.81. The product of Staarheim, Norway, placed in the top five both runs.
Also posting top 10 finishes were Florian Szwebel, sixth, 1:32.78, and Morten Bakke, eighth, 1:33.14.
“It was great to see the guys put three in the top ten,” said MSU Alpine head coach Kevin Francis. “They are one of the best teams on the hill any given day and with more of them finishing, we could see some spectacular team performances this year.”
The Bobcat women were led by Stephanie Gartner, who placed sixth with a two-run total of 1:39.27. Gartner clocked the third fastest opening run time. She was followed by Jocelyn McCarthy, 12th, 1:40.57, and Mia Henry, 14th, 1:40.72.
“The ladies got the job done short-handed,” Francis stated. “With only three in the race and lots of ladies going out, they all got to the finish line. They will be happy to be at full strength next series and take more risk.”
Utah’s Addison Dvoracek captured then men’s giant slalom qualifier in 1:31.25, while Colorado’s Mikaela Tommy captured the women’s title in 1:37.54.
The MSU Invitational will pick up again on Friday with the slalom events at Bridger Bowl, while the Nordic freestyle races will get underway at 10 a.m. at Crosscut Mountain Sports Center.
