SUGARLOAF, Maine - Jennifer Kinner got the University of Wyoming women's Nordic ski team off to a good start on the Tuesday's first day of the United States Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association championships.

The defending-champion Cowgirls won the first event of the week, the 1.5-kilometer sprint race, led by Kinner's first-place finish, according to a release from the UW News Department. Kinner, a senior from Casper, also is the defending national women's champion in the club-level championships.

Times were not available.

The Cowboys placed third overall in Tuesday's men's competition.

Individually, both UW teams had nine different skiers place in the top 15 in the sprint race.

The Cowgirls' Kristen Boroff, a junior from Pinedale, was the runner-up. Also placing for UW were Melissa Gangl, freshman, Casper, seventh; Brooke Umphlett, senior, Casper, 10th; Erika Edgely, junior, Lake Placid, N.Y., 11th; and Ava Bell, sophomore, Laramie, 14th.

Riley Hopeman, a junior from Lander, paced the Cowboys with a sixth-place finish, while teammates Adam Alspach and Justin Daraie, both juniors from Casper, tied for eighth. The Cowboys were the national runners-up last season.

Action resumes today with the 15K classic. Thursday is a rest day, and Friday features the 8.5K skate interval. The championships conclude Saturday with the 3x5K relay event.