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Bozeman MT Press

BSF's Bender claims national title in Michigan

BSF was well represented in Houghton. Logan Diekmann, a recent Bozeman High graduate who is taking a gap year before attending the University of Utah, sped to fourth in the junior men’s freestyle sprint. Bozeman’s Sofia Shomento advanced to the junior freestyle sprint quarterfinals and finished 14th among U18s. Among men’s Elite Team members, Bozeman’s Akeo Maifeld- Carucci finished 15th in the freestyle sprint, two spots ahead of teammate Nick Michaud. The athletes have two races remaining this week, and Bender will be gunning for another top finish in Saturday’s classic sprint to bolster her chances of qualifying for the World Cup circuit. She won the 2013 classic sprint national crown, and one year later added a skate sprint title to her list of accolades. Montana State impresses in Utah: The Bobcats kicked off the 2016 season Monday with three top 10 slalom finishes at the University of Utah Invitational at Park City Mountain Resort. Sophomore Garrett Driller built on the momentum generated during a stellar first campaign at MSU with a fifth-place finish in 1 minute, 58.62 seconds. Teammate David Neuhauser (1:59.42) was one spot behind. The duo, which garnered All-Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association honors last winter, combined for 56 points. The Bobcats’ third scorer, Jeffrey Bell (2:08.76), wound up 29th, while Michael Radford, Andrew Kircher and Morten Bakke were 31st, 32nd and 35th, respectively. “The first day at the Utah invite was beautiful,” MSU Alpine coach Kevin Francis said in a program news release. “(Driller and Neuhauser) have been tweaking their equipment through the early-season races and finding their balance, but it all came together in the opening slalom race. I’m excited to see what they can do when the conditions are better.” Denver’s Erik Read (1:56.86) captured the individual title. On the women’s side, sophomore and reigning second-team All-American Benedicte Lyche paced MSU with a ninth-place finish in 1:36.17. Also scoring were Kari Hole (15th, 1:37.39) and Mia Henry (19th, 1:38.69). Hole, a sophomore from Germany, posted the day’s fastest second run (47.82). Teammates Stephanie Gartner, Tenaya Driller, Amanda Stelling and Elizabeth Koprucki finished 20th, 21st, 23rd and 28th, respectively. “The women’s team had a good day overall with six in the top (30), but I’m guessing they are all disappointed,” Francis said. “Jocelyn McCarthy came out in her first college race as a true freshman and was fourth on the first run. She was going even faster on the second run when she hooked a tip on a gate. “The other girls... http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/sports/bobcats/skiing/bsf-s-bender-claims-national-title-in-michigan/article_b91f5fea-044e-56e3-b512-84fbbd78905a.html