UW men win 15K classic, Cowgirls place second at 9,000-foot Colorado Mesa

University of Wyoming skiers pushed through high-altitude climbs and winter conditions to produce top finishes at the Colorado Mesa University Invitational. The Cowboys won the 15-kilometer classic at a course above 9,000 feet with more than 1,000 feet of elevation gain, and the Cowgirls placed second; both UW teams also finished runners-up in the 1.3K sprint contested in constant snow and cold.

Drew Couch paced the Wyoming men with a podium finish in third, and teammates supplied the depth that produced the team title. Diego Labatos was reported fourth, Laramie junior Austin Quillinan fifth, William Blair sixth, Kaleb Simonson seventh and Jack Jendro eighth. Additional UW men’s finishers listed included Ben Clough 13th, Matthew Ahrndt 17th, Emmitt Gray 18th, Henry Phillips 23rd, John Zhang 37th and Jason Zhanghuan 38th. Co-head coach Rachel Watson noted the collective performance: "Our athletes were incredibly gritty," and added that "the men finished exceptionally close together, with our top skier on the podium and teammates stacking fourth through eighth."

The Cowgirls were led by Eleanor Veauthier in sixth, with Shayla Babits seventh, Gigi Mahood eighth and Leah Ines 10th; other finishers included Morgan Gelwicks 13th, Irene Ma 22nd, Stella Ordahl 23rd, Kiana Henny 24th, Kelly Xu 26th and Mia Yu 27th. Co-head coach Christi Boggs framed the weekend as a test of conditions and resolve: "The weather was difficult, but our athletes kept fighting," and she added, "Both Shayla (Babits) and Austin (Quillinan) were inches from podium finishes. Their grit and skill showed in every round."

The sprint on Sunday unfolded in steady snow and cold, and while individual sprint placings were not listed in the release excerpts, each UW squad finished second in team standings. The combination of classic endurance work on Jan. 24 at altitude and sprint speed under harsh conditions highlights the program’s versatility and the physiological challenge of racing above 9,000 feet.

For Albany County, the results reinforce Laramie’s role as a regional center for Nordic skiing and as a pipeline for youth athletes who train at elevation. Strong team depth, as shown by multiple top-10 finishes on the men’s side, improves UW’s competitive profile and can help recruiting and local sponsorship interest heading into conference competition. The Cowgirls’ runner-up showing also underlines program stability and provides momentum for returning athletes.

Fans in Laramie can take pride in local athletes' performances and in the program’s ability to compete in demanding, high-altitude conditions. UW Athletics posts official results and meet updates for those tracking individual times, team scoring and the next competitive stops on the schedule.