Feb. 10, 2007

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The University of New Mexico ski team almost caught defending national champion Colorado for second place at the New Mexico Invitational in Taos and Red River, N.M., today. The Lobos totaled 480 points in the two-day event, five behind the Buffaloes. Denver won its second-straight Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association meet with 592.5 points. The Lobos rode a strong performance behind its Alpine teams. Senior Tor Fodnesbergene won the men's slalom while freshman Malin Hemmingson took the women's slalom title.

The women's Alpine team came into today's race ranked sixth overall in the RMISA women's slalom and their best finish of the year was third at Utah. Today, the Lobos captured the women's slalom team title behind Hemmingson's first career win and top-10 finishes from sophomore Karin Ohlin (8th) and junior Amy Beresford (9th). Hemmingson set the pace with a two-run time of 1:44.02. Ohlin and Beresford finished the race in 1:47.32 and 1:47.37, respectively. Also racing for the Lobo women's Alpine team today were junior Lene Kaasa and freshman Jessica Dakers who both fell in their runs.

Fodnesbergene's win is his best result of the season, finishing the course in 1:41.23, and the third slalom win of his career. He now has more slalom wins than any other Lobo in school history. His five career wins is also third all-time at UNM. Senior Lars Loeseth finished sixth in the race with a time of 1:42.62. Freshman Jon Masdal also scored a top-10 in today's slalom with an eighth-place time of 1:43.09. As a team, the Lobo men placed second in the slalom with 78 points, two behind winning Denver. Also racing for the Lobos today were freshmen Olivier Lacaille and Gary Beresford who tied for 24th, both finishing in 1:49.76.

The women's Nordic team placed fourth in today's 5K freestyle race, led by Jaques 11th place time of 16:26.9. Colorado's Maria Grevsgaard won the race in 15:06.2. Sophomore Melanie Zemp crossed the line in 16:28.2, good enough for 13th place overall. Junior Laura Van Alst also had a scoring time for the Lobos, placing 17th in 16:32.1. Also racing for the Lobo women today were freshman Polina Ermoshina (19th - 16:32.6) and junior Tiffany Callahan (22nd - 17:07.9).

The Lobo men placed 7th in their 10K freestyle race, led by sophomore Casey Dyck's 13th-place time of 28:48.6. It was his best finish of the season and his best mark since placing 12th at Western State last season. Alaska-Anchorage's Paul Schauer won the race in 27:27.8. Senior Jedd Young also had his best race of the season, placing 16th with a time of 29:03.8. Freshman Vsevolod Soloviev finished in 31:12.3 while fellow freshman Erlend Saetre recorded a time of 31:58.5, placing 33rd and 38th, respectively.

"I am proud of all of our athletes," stated UNM head coach George Brooks, who completes the final home meet of his 37-year career at UNM. "We made a big jump today in the standings and we are getting better each week. Malin and Tor were huge for us and our women's Alpine team was exceptional. Our goal is to peak at the NCAAs and we are gaining momentum."

"I would like to thank everyone at Taos Ski Valley and the Enchanted Forest Ski Area," added Brooks. "Without the help of the ski areas and all of the volunteers involved, we not be able to put on such an event."

The third place finish is the best result of the season for the Lobos ski team who hit the trails again on February 23-24 in Reno, Nev., at the RMISA Championships/NCAA West Regionals. The RMISA Championships are the final event for the NCAA Championships. This year's NCAA races will be hosted by the University of New Hampshire in Jackson, N.H., on March 8-11.