Utah Utes skiing: U. places second at Park City

PARK CITY — Senior Eva Huckova won the women's giant slalom event to lead the University of Utah ski team to a second-place finish in the team standings (216 points) Saturday at the 2011 Utah Invitational at the Park City Mountain Resort.

Huckova posted a combined time of 1:58.34 in her two runs on the day. She started with a 57.31 time in the first round then turned in a time of 1:01.03 in the second. Both times were the best of the day in the women's competition.

Sofia Smith finished 14th overall with a time of 2:03.54 to tally 27 points for the Utes. Freshman Tii-Maria Romar immediately followed Smith with a 15th-place finish to earn Utah's third scoring spot and give the Utes 26 additional points.

On the men's side, Jeremy Elliott turned in a third-place finish with a time of 1:56.11 to earn 44 points. Ryan Wilson followed for the Utes in fifth at 1:56.78 (41 points) with Torjus Krogdahl rounding out the scoring for the Utes in 16th place at 1:58.37 for 28 points.

Also competing for Utah's on the women's side was Jamie DuPratt, who placed 29th, while Eian Sandvik took 20th (1:58.49).

Denver is in first place in the team standings with 232 points.

Westminster was in seventh place. Marc Perathoner was the top placing individual on the men's team with his 16th-place result. Perathoner had a combined time of 1:59.18 during his two runs down the course. Jens Aune was the only other Griffin to complete two runs.

On the women's side, Maria Fraschini paced the Griffins with a 10th-place finish. Fraschini finished her two runs with a combined time of 2:02.51. Erika Holmberg finished 21st overall after her combined time of 2:09.60

The University of Utah Invitational's second day of alpine competition will be held tomorrow and feature the slalom race. First run from the Park City Mountain Resort will begin at 9:15 a.m.