STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. - Saint Michael's College Alpine skiing senior Simen Strand (Nedre Høvik, Norway/Dønski VGS) earned his school-record-tying fourth All-America accolade on Wednesday during the NCAA Championship at Steamboat Resort. He joins three SMC Athletic Hall of Famers - men's basketball's Rich Tarrant '65 and men's ice hockey's John Gurskis '98 and Kyle Lanfear '98 - as four-time All-Americans.
 
Strand was sixth in the giant slalom, matching his own school record for top finish in the event at an NCAA Championship. Sophomore Gray Flanagan (West Burke, Vt./Green Mountain Valley School) tied for 15th, and junior Helene Kristoffersen (Rælingen, Norway/Dønski VGS) captured 29th place.
 
CHAMPIONSHIP FACTS

• The two men combined for fifth-place points (42.5), the most among teams with fewer than three racers. They trimmed host Colorado University (42), which enter three in the event. Saint Michael's was third among East squads.
• The men earned their ninth top-five finish in 11 scored events this season.
• Between the men and women's, Saint Michael's took 10th on the opening day (44.5), within range of East rivals Dartmouth College (47) and the University of New Hampshire (59), both of which have the maximum six Alpine skiers at the championship. The Purple Knights scored fourth-place points among East schools.

MEN'S LEADERS

• Senior Simen Strand (Nedre Høvik, Norway/Dønski VGS), 6th in giant slalom, 1:45.38 two-run combined time
  • 3rd finisher from East
  • Started in No. 3 bib among 34 competitors; 2nd starter from the East
  • Sat 6th following opening run (52.00), 2nd among East skiers
  • Earned All-America second team finish by placing between sixth and 10th; came within 0.06 seconds of fifth place and a first team nod
  • 4th career All-America performance, including 3rd second team finish in GS
  • Now owns school record for most All-America finishes by a Saint Michael's skier
  • Tied his own school record for top finish in GS at an NCAA Championship
  • 8th top-6 finish this season
  • 3rd career NCAA Championship appearance
• Sophomore Gray Flanagan (West Burke, Vt./Green Mountain Valley School), tied for 15th, 1:46.34
  • Tied for 8th among East skiers
  • Started in No. 20 bib; 10th starter from the East
  • Sat 19th following opening run (52.82), 10th among East skiers
  • 2nd career NCAA Championship appearances

WOMEN'S LEADERS

• Junior Helene Kristoffersen (Rælingen, Norway/Dønski VGS), 29th in giant slalom, 2:00:14 two-run combined time
  • 12th among East skiers
  • Started in No. 16 bib among 34 competitors; 8th starter from the East
  • Sat 27th following opening run (1:02.87), 11th among East skiers
  • 3rd career NCAA Championship appearance

NEXT SAINT MICHAEL'S EVENT

• Nordic skiing first-year Henrik Wist (Trondheim, Norway/Heimdal VGS) races tomorrow in the 7.5K freestyle at 12 p.m. ET.
• The Alpine trio finishes competition with the slalom on Friday beginning at 8:40 p.m. ET.