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Clarkson University Athletics

Hayden Tops Giant Slalom Race at West Mountain

Alpine Ski | 2/3/2024 4:48:00 PM

Queensbury, NY – After a handful of runner-up finishes and numerous podium placements over the course of his collegiate career, senior Sam Hayden picked up his first win for the Clarkson University Alpine Ski team on Saturday, taking the top spot in the giant slalom at West Mountain, hosted by Castleton University.

The Golden Knights' men finished third among eight teams in the giant slalom in the regular two-run race and then placed third out of seven teams in the single-run makeup from last weekend. Clarkson's women were also third out of seven squads in their two-run race, with their makeup scheduled alongside the regularly scheduled slalom race.

In the first race, Hayden was the top skier in the opening run by .16 seconds and then was second in the next run by that same margin, but the second-run winner was not the runner-up in the first trip down the hill, allowing Hayden to claim the win in 2:10.76, a victory of .19 seconds. Josh Jusiak was next for the Knights, finishing just outside the top 10 in 11th place among 70 participants with a time of 2:16.27. Clarkson's team time was closed out by Jackson Knobloch, who came in 16th in 2:18.62. Reed Martin was two spots later in 18th in 2:19.21, and Braden Kruk came in 20th in 2:19.91.

In the final giant slalom run, which was a makeup from last weekend's event in Massachusetts, Sam Hayden took eighth place with a time of 1:08.64. The same trio's times ended up as the team score, with Jusiak coming in 12th (1:09.55) and Knobloch coming in 15th (1:10.05). Once again, Martin was next, placing 16th in a time of 1:10.14, while Kruk again snuck inside the top 20, taking 19th in 1:11.55.

In the women's race, the first run appeared as if the Knights might challenge for a second-place finish, but a slip on run number two saw Clarkson take third. Hannah Goetz came in third place out of 51 skiers with a time of 2:22.33. Kyla Butler claimed the 17th spot in 2:29.89 and Kylie Brino took 19th place in 2:30.52. Isabella Pelkey was just outside the top 30, coming in 33rd place in 2:46.55. Elyse Donaghue was in the top 10 after her first run, finishing in eighth place in 1:11.26, but she did not finish her second trip down the hill.

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Players Mentioned

Sam Hayden: Junior

Josh Jusiak: Sophomore

Isabella Pelkey: Sophomore

Kyla Butler: Freshman

Elyse Donaghue: Freshman

Kylie Brino: Freshman

Hannah Goetz: Freshman

Braden Kruk: Freshman

Reed Martin: Freshman

Jackson Knobloch: Freshman

Players Mentioned

Sam Hayden
: Junior

Josh Jusiak
: Sophomore

Isabella Pelkey
: Sophomore

Kyla Butler
: Freshman

Elyse Donaghue
: Freshman

Kylie Brino
: Freshman

Hannah Goetz
: Freshman

Braden Kruk
: Freshman

Reed Martin
: Freshman

Jackson Knobloch
: Freshman