A total of 18 teams and more than 90 skiers competed. Weather conditions remained
frigid Thursday, with the daytime wind chill factor falling to about five degrees below
zero.
WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- The Whitman College men's alpine team finished third in
the giant slalom team scoring Thursday as the U.S. Collegiate Ski Association national
championships continued near Lincoln, New Hamphire.Sierra Nevada College, the perennial alpine champion, was a clear-cut winner with a team score of 288.58 seconds for its top three finishers.
Whitman, in second place after the first run, was bumped into the third spot when Plymouth State College skiers posted a strong second run on their home hill.
"It's been several years since Plymouth State has had a strong team, and their guys skied very, very well on their second run," Whitman alpine coach Tom Olson said. "Our guys skied great, and there's nothing wrong with placing third against this type of competition, but you have to give Plymouth State credit. They did a great job with their second run."
Plymouth State slipped into second place with a team score of 296.46 seconds, edging Whitman and its 298.33 total. The University of British Columbia was fourth and Boston College fifth.
A total of 18 teams and more than 90 skiers competed. Weather conditions remained
frigid Thursday, with the daytime wind chill factor falling to about five degrees below
zero.
Sierra Nevada's Uros Pavolovcic, who won both the giant slalom and slalom events at last year's national championships, was a repeat winner in Thursday's giant slalom. His winning time for two runs was 95.45 seconds.
Two of his teammates, Michel Bortis and Magnus Oja, placed second and third.
Whitman's Andy Olsson was in fourth place after his first run but then slipped to 10th in the final standings.
Olsson's total time was 99.21 seconds, which left him less than two-tenths of a second out of seventh place and just six-tenths of a second out of fifth place.
Whitman's Mike Craven was ninth after his first run and 12th overall in 99.28
seconds. Charlie Woodruff was 15th in 99.84 seconds.
The top 15 finishers earned All-American honors.
Whitman's Brett Macfarlane, a sophomore, placed 19th in 100.23 seconds. Freshman Matt Rarity was enjoying a strong first run when he got caught on two gates and did not finish.
A year ago at nationals, the Whitman men placed second and third in the two alpine events and finished second in the combined scoring.
"We're good giant slalom skiers, but I think we're better slalom skiers," Olson said. "We're in a good position and we've got a great opportunity to move up in Saturday's slalom."
Meanwhile, the Whitman men's and women's alpine and cross country teams are on track to capture their fourth consecutive all-around championships. Those titles are based on each school's combined scores in two alpine and two cross country events.
With two of the four events complete, the Missionary men are well in front with just 15 team points. Cornell University is second with 76 points followed by the University of Wisconsin-Madison in third with 90 points.
The Whitman women with 40 points also hold a lead at the halfway point. Cornell is second with 64 points. Colby-Sawyer College is third with 92 points.
The championships continue Friday with the women's slalom and the men's and women's cross country freestyle races. In addition to the men's slalom on Saturday, the championships will conclude that day with the men's and women's cross country relay races.
Dave Holden, Whitman Sports Information, (509) 527-5902
E-Mail Address: holden@whitman.edu