Wednesday, March 11
Salt Lake City, UT
Montana State University
at
NCAA Giant Slalom
2026 NCAA Giant Slalom Champion Justine LaMontagne
Photo by: Bobcat Creative Services
Justine Lamontagne Captures GS National Championship to Lead Bobcats at Day One of NCAA Championships
3/11/2026 10:20:00 PM | Men's Skiing, Women's Skiing
Bobcats move into third place after first day of competition
(March 11, 2026) – Montana State's Justine Lamontagne made Bobcat history on Wednesday, claiming the school's second women's skiing national title at the 2026 NCAA Ski Championships in Park City, Utah.
A senior from Saint-Ferreol-les-Neiges, Quebec, Lamontagne sailed through her first run in a time of 1:02.97. That mark won the run, and gave her a cushion of nearly two seconds entering run two. "Her first run she put everything on the line and really separated herself from the rest of the field," said MSU head alpine coach Kris Shampeny. "That puts her mindset at ease going into second run with that much of a cushion."
Lamontagne's second run of 1:01.01 was the eighth-best mark in the field, but it helped her add to her lead. "In the second run she followed it up and put another three-tenths of a second on the field," Shampeny said, "winning by almost 1.7 seconds overall. That's one of the largest win margins we've had all year in our college races."
The title boosted Lamontagne into legendary status at Montana State. She joins Benedicte Lyche, who won the giant slalom in 2017, as MSU's only women's national champions. Dan Brelsford won the 1978 slalom title, the only Bobcat man to claim a crown.
Four other Bobcats posted top 20 finishes in Wednesday's giant slalom. Lily Sewell (2:07.18) finished 12th and Tea Kiesel (2:08.18) finished 17th in the women's race. "Tea had one mistake in the second run but skied really solid everywhere else and that's what kept her in the top 20," Shampeny said. "Lily really came out of her shell in (the second) run and really went after it. It was cool to see."
In the men's race, Gianluca Boehm finished 12th (1:57.03) and Will Steed tied for 13th (1:57.12). "Giani's been our rock all year in that top 10 to top five position, and he had solid first and second runs today," Shampeny said. "Will was a little bit safe on the first run, and in the second run he really went after it like he has been doing in recent races. He really moved way up in the results because of it, so that was good to see."
As well as the team performed, Shampeny said Lamontagne's brilliance was a driving factor. "Justine's success from first run pushed the others to bring their level up in the second runs, and it showed. You get a feel for the snow. It was hard snow in the morning, but it didn't change that much during the day even with all the sun we've been getting. It stayed the same from run one to one two, and getting that first run in always helps."
After the first of four race days, Montana State is in third place with 109.5 points, trailing Colorado (137) and Utah (133). Denver is just behind at 108.5.
Montana State's Nordic squad takes the stage tomorrow at Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah. The Alpine athletes return on Friday for the slalom competition. Lamontagne is one of the favorites in that discipline, as well.
WOMEN'S GIANT SLALOM
1. Justine Lamontagne, 2:03.98 – 1:02.97 (1st), 1:01.01 (8th)
12. Lily Sewell, 2:07.18 – 1:06.67 (18th), 1:00.51 (4th)
17. Tea Kiesel, 2:08.18 – 1:05.98 (15th), 1:02.20 (23rd)
MEN'S GIANT SLALOM
12. Gianluca Boehm, 1:57.03 – 58.77 (13th), 58.26 (17th)
T13. Will Steed, 1:57.12 – 59.50 (25th), 57.62 (4th)
DNF. Torius Hepsoe
#GoCatsGo
A senior from Saint-Ferreol-les-Neiges, Quebec, Lamontagne sailed through her first run in a time of 1:02.97. That mark won the run, and gave her a cushion of nearly two seconds entering run two. "Her first run she put everything on the line and really separated herself from the rest of the field," said MSU head alpine coach Kris Shampeny. "That puts her mindset at ease going into second run with that much of a cushion."
Lamontagne's second run of 1:01.01 was the eighth-best mark in the field, but it helped her add to her lead. "In the second run she followed it up and put another three-tenths of a second on the field," Shampeny said, "winning by almost 1.7 seconds overall. That's one of the largest win margins we've had all year in our college races."
The title boosted Lamontagne into legendary status at Montana State. She joins Benedicte Lyche, who won the giant slalom in 2017, as MSU's only women's national champions. Dan Brelsford won the 1978 slalom title, the only Bobcat man to claim a crown.
Four other Bobcats posted top 20 finishes in Wednesday's giant slalom. Lily Sewell (2:07.18) finished 12th and Tea Kiesel (2:08.18) finished 17th in the women's race. "Tea had one mistake in the second run but skied really solid everywhere else and that's what kept her in the top 20," Shampeny said. "Lily really came out of her shell in (the second) run and really went after it. It was cool to see."
In the men's race, Gianluca Boehm finished 12th (1:57.03) and Will Steed tied for 13th (1:57.12). "Giani's been our rock all year in that top 10 to top five position, and he had solid first and second runs today," Shampeny said. "Will was a little bit safe on the first run, and in the second run he really went after it like he has been doing in recent races. He really moved way up in the results because of it, so that was good to see."
As well as the team performed, Shampeny said Lamontagne's brilliance was a driving factor. "Justine's success from first run pushed the others to bring their level up in the second runs, and it showed. You get a feel for the snow. It was hard snow in the morning, but it didn't change that much during the day even with all the sun we've been getting. It stayed the same from run one to one two, and getting that first run in always helps."
After the first of four race days, Montana State is in third place with 109.5 points, trailing Colorado (137) and Utah (133). Denver is just behind at 108.5.
Montana State's Nordic squad takes the stage tomorrow at Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah. The Alpine athletes return on Friday for the slalom competition. Lamontagne is one of the favorites in that discipline, as well.
WOMEN'S GIANT SLALOM
1. Justine Lamontagne, 2:03.98 – 1:02.97 (1st), 1:01.01 (8th)
12. Lily Sewell, 2:07.18 – 1:06.67 (18th), 1:00.51 (4th)
17. Tea Kiesel, 2:08.18 – 1:05.98 (15th), 1:02.20 (23rd)
MEN'S GIANT SLALOM
12. Gianluca Boehm, 1:57.03 – 58.77 (13th), 58.26 (17th)
T13. Will Steed, 1:57.12 – 59.50 (25th), 57.62 (4th)
DNF. Torius Hepsoe
#GoCatsGo
Players Mentioned
Alpine
/ Men's Skiing
Alpine
/ Women's Skiing
Alpine
/ Women's Skiing
Alpine
/ Women's Skiing
Alpine
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