STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COLO. – The University of Alaska Anchorage ski team concluded competition at the Colorado Invite on Saturday with four athletes securing top-10 finishes. The event, held in Steamboat Springs, saw strong performances from both the men’s and women’s teams.
Erling Bjornstad led the UAA men, finishing fifth in the 7.5-kilometer classic race with a time of 21:22. Corbin Carpenter closely followed, securing sixth place in 21:24. These results highlighted the strength of the UAA men’s cross-country ski program.
On the women’s side, Dashe McCabe was the top finisher for the Seawolves, placing seventh in the 7.5-kilometer classic with a time of 24:52. Constance Lapointe also contributed to the team’s success, finishing 10th in 25:12. Alexandra Otto finished 18th (25:47) and Marit Flora was 19th (25:50).
Additional strong showings from the UAA men included Hermod Bangstad in 16th place (22:07), Parke Chapin in 22nd (23:03), and Matt Seline in 23rd (23:08). The consistent performances across the team demonstrated the depth of talent within the UAA ski program.
the University of Alaska Anchorage finished fifth out of nine teams competing at the Colorado Invite. Utah’s Erica Laven won the women’s race in a time of 22:41, while Johannes Flaaten of Colorado took the top spot in the men’s race with a time of 21:01.
The Seawolves will now set their sights on the Utah Invitational, scheduled to begin on February 22nd, where they will compete in giant slalom races. This upcoming event provides another opportunity for the UAA ski team to showcase their skills and compete against some of the top programs in the nation.
The Colorado Invite results build on recent successes for UAA alpine skiers. Earlier this month, Ella Bromlee secured second-place finishes in both slalom races at the Denver Invitational, and four other Seawolves combined for a total of five top-10 finishes in three races during that competition. Corbin Carpenter also recently achieved a fifth-place finish in the 7.5-kilometer freestyle race at the Utah Invite, according to team reports.
The UAA alpine ski team opened its season with strong performances in slalom and giant slalom races in Colorado in January. Despite challenging snow conditions – described by UAA alpine coach Sparky Anderson as “the worst snow year for training that I can recall in the last 25 years” – the team demonstrated its competitive edge. Bromlee’s performances, in particular, have positioned her as a top contender for the NCAA Championships, following her fourth-place slalom finishes at the last two national competitions.
