Led by Norwegian Olympian Leif Kristian Haugen, the Denver Pioneers dominated the first day of racing at the NCAA ski championships in Steamboat Springs.
Haugen, who finished 28th in the giant slalom at the Vancouver Olympics, won the men’s GS Wednesday, and Lindsay Cone was second in the women’s GS as the Pioneers opened up a sizable lead on the field. DU has won a record 20 NCAA ski titles.
“Leif showed today that he was the best skier all year, and he came through when it counted,” DU alpine head coach Andy LeRoy said.
DU, which won the past two NCAA titles, put two racers in the top five of each race and scored 239 points to take a 42.5-point lead over second-place Utah. Host Colorado is in sixth place with 143 points.
Three days of racing remain. Today’s races will be cross country classical technique. A slalom under the lights at historic Howelsen Hill follows Friday night, and the championships conclude with cross country freestyle technique on Saturday.
“It was a great start and we’re happy to be leading, but it’s a long championship and we’ve still got work to do,” LeRoy said.
John Meyer, The Denver Post
Eagles rain goals on Thunder.
The Colorado Eagles of the Central Hockey League scored five goals in the second period and went on to defeat Wichita 8-1 at Intrust Bank Arena in Kansas.
Ryan McLeod and Brett Lutes each had two goals for the Eagles. Colorado outshot Wichita 50-22.
