BOZEMAN, Mont. -- The Colorado ski team received another exceptional performance from its Nordic teams Friday, giving the Buffs a 17-point lead at the midway point of the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association Championships.

Colorado leads the nine-team meet with 266 points, though 54 points separate the top seven in the standings, making this easily the most-closely contested race of the five thus far this season.

Denver is in second (249), followed by Utah (245), New Mexico (230), Nevada (219), Alaska-Anchorage (214) and host Montana State (212).

The Buffaloes are trying to win their ninth regional title under head coach Richard Rokos, last doing so in 2006 on their way to the national title. Colorado has 21 RMISA titles -- 11 men's, one women's and nine coed.

Senior Maria Grevsgaard returned to her winning ways, as she captured the women's 5-kilometer freestyle race in 14:56.25, good for a 10-plus second nod over Denver's Annelise Bailly. She won the first seven races of the season before a second place finish in the freestyle in New Mexico.

It was her 16th career win, adding to her all-time CU record; in addition, though a senior academically, should she choose to return for school next year which is her plan, she will have another year of eligibility remaining.

In the men's 10K freestyle, Buff senior Kit Richmond won his second straight race, completing two loops around the layout in 27:02.10.

The RMISA Championships conclude today with the alpine slalom and classical cross country races.

The CU men's alpine had its best giant slalom of the winter, with two top 10 finishers. Junior Tony Cesolini finished eighth in a two-run time of 1:49.51, with sophomore Patrick Duran grabbing 10th in 1:49.97.

In the women's giant slalom, senior Lucie Zikova finished second to Denver's Jenny Lathrop.

"It is fantastic to see that we are leading, and by that much. It's a surprise to me because we didn't get the points today we almost always get from our women's alpine team," Rokos said. "It's great to see the Nordics doing so well, and they're still shy Matt Gelso.

"The main goal on the alpine side today was to qualify a full team, and getting an eighth and 10th place are good results for us at this point. But we need to do well in slalom."

RMISA Championships/

NCAA West Regional

Team Scores -- 1. Colorado 266; 2. Denver 249; 3. Utah 245; 4. New Mexico 230; 5. Nevada 219; 6. Alaska-Anchorage 214; 7. Montana State 212; 8. Whitman 102; 9. Western State 95.

Men's Giant Slalom -- 1. Gregory Berger, UN, 1:48.72; 2. Tor Fodnesbergene, UNM, 1:48.80; 3. Andre Hokholt, MSU, 1:49.02; 4. Scott Veenis, Utah, 1:49.17; 5. Thomas Schwab, UNM, 1:49.23; 6. Egil Ismar, UAA, 1:49.44; 7. Kyle Kung, Utah, 1:49.46; 8. Tony Cesolini, CU, 1:49.51; 9. Thomas Zumbrunn, Utah, 1:49.82; 10. Patrick Duran, CU, 1:49.97. Other Area Results: 12. Marc Perathoner, WSC, 1:50.18; 14. John Buchar, DU, 1:50.40; 15. Seppi Stiegler, DU, 1:50.83; 16. Eric Andersen, WSC, 1:50.74; 17. Francesco Ghedina, DU, 1:50.83; 18. Josh Bryan, CU, 1:50.86; 23. Drew Roberts, CU, 1:51.26; 25. Stefan Hughes, CU, 1:51.56; 31. Miles Cooke, CU, 1:53.99; 34. Ian Lochhead, DU, 1:54.50; 35. Marco Schaefferer, WSC, 1:54.53; 36. Viktor Hlas, WSC, 1:55.18; 38. Bryant Dylan, WSC, 1:57.15; 39. Bo Maciejko, WSC, 1:57.32. Did Not Start: Arman Serebrakian (2nd run).

Women's Giant Slalom -- 1. Jenny Lathrop, DU, 1:47.41; 2. Lucie Zikova, CU, 1:48.09; 3. Katie Lyons, UN, 1:49.03; 4. Allison Empey, UAA, 1:49.50; 5. Karin Ohlin, UNM, 1:49.59; 6. Malin Hemmingsson, UNM, 1:49.63; 7. Kristina Repcinova, UAA, 1:49.86; 8. Chirine Njeim, Utah, 1:50.10; 9. Smaranda Munteneau, UAA, 1:50.14; 10. Amy Harris, UN, 1:50.43. Other Area Results: 13. Molly Ryan, DU, 1:51.15; 17. Karine Falck-Pedersen, DU, 1:52.29; 19. Claire Abbe, DU, 1:52:54; 21. Lindsay McClure, DU, 1:52.89; 28. Ciera Glenn, WSC, 1:53.67; 31. Ashley Babcock, CU, 1:56.27; 32. Heidi Hillenbrand, CU, 1:56.65; 33. Lauren Eder, DU, 1:56.95; 39. Lauren Korpi, WSC, 2:03.22; 40. Rachel Roosevelt, CU, 2:04.96; 41. Alexandra Verdun, WSC, 2:07.20; 42. Jenna Sheely, WSC, 2:10.64; 44. Lisa Perricone, CU, 4:17.03. Did Not Finish (2nd run): Courtney Saario, DU.

Men's 10K Freestyle -- 1. Kit Richmond, CU, 27:02.10; 2. Raphael Wunderle, UAA, 27:06.24; 3. John Stene, DU, 27:19.88; 4. Jesper Ostensen, CU, 27:35.32; 5. Snorri Einarsson, Utah, 27:41.28; 6. Anders Folleraas, MSU, 27:49.46; 7. Gunnar Kristiansen, MSU, 27:58.69; 8. Josh Smith, CU, 28:07.27; 9. Even Sletten, Utah, 28:13.20; 10. Haavard Selseng, DU, 28:13.87. Other Area Results: 14. Taylor Sheldon, DU, 28:26.52; 19. Mike Hinckley, DU, 28:36.66; 23. Kyle Ahern, DU, 29:17.84; 25. Dan Clark, DU, 29:32.50; 32. Tom Sunderland, WSC, 31:05.02; 38. Ansel Schimpff, WSC, 31:47.25; 41. Tyler Allyn, WSC, 34:07.58; 42. Seth Carvill, WSC, 36:46.15.

Women's 5K Freestyle -- 1. Maria Grevsgaard, CU, 14:56.25; 2. Annelise Bailly, DU, 15:06.96; 3. Lenka Palanova, CU, 15:15.95; 4. Chelsea Holmes, UN, 15:16.87; 5. Antje Maempel, DU, 15:19.14; Ermoshina Polina, UNM, 15:29.04; 7. Paige Brady, UN, 15:31.07; 8. Jenny Hamilton, CU, 15:33.79; Devon Spika, Whit., 15:39.02; 10. Sara Schweiger, Utah, 15:43.80. Other Area Results: 14. Karoline Borgnes, CU, 16:04.76; 15. Mia Gaw, CU, 16:14.30; 17. Kristin Ronnestrand, CU, 16:18.15; 23. Katie Ronsse, DU, 16:39.46; 27. Stephanie Wunderle, DU, 16:54.70; 35. Brittany Perkins, WSC, 18:27.58; 37. Mary Matthews, WSC, 19:07.04; 38. Heidi Lovett, WSC, 21:01.58.