CARRABASSETT VALLEY, ME – With icy conditions forcing the postponement of the giant slalom until Sunday, the team score was held in place today by the nordic team in the 15K/2 0K mass start freestyle races. Kirsten Johnson ’11’s ninth place result was the best finish for both men’s and women’s teams.
The women race freestyle races opened the morning with a mass start on a frozen pond that sent racers directly into Sugarloaf’s narrow trail system, making for some pileups, tense moments, and a few broken poles. Johnson worked her way up from bib 39 and to finish less than a minute back in ninth place, just off the lead pack. Alice Nelson ’10 followed, thirty seconds back, in 13th place. Scoring for the team for the first time was Sarah Tory ’11 with a promising 34th place finish. Holly Whitney ’12 moved up to place 39th, with seniors Fiona Worcester and Liz Kantack, racing in their last college carnival, placing 42nd and 48th overall. Middlebury freshman Elise Moody-Roberts won the race.
With the alpine team out in full force cheering on the nordic skiers, the men’s team began their four lap race with the mass start on the pond and moving quickly into position in the woods. Alex Taylor ‘10 led the men’s team, racing with the lead pack early in the race and settling in to place 12th, holding off the 2008 NCAA national champion, Glenn Randall of Dartmouth, at the finish. Senior captain Sam Kapala finished the final race of his college career in 21st place, with freshman Dimitri Luthi fifteen seconds back in 23rd. Erik Anderson ’12 followed in 36th place and Evan Dethier ’11 took 49th place. Middlebury senior Simi Hamilton sprinted to the win.
By virtue of his best two classic and freestyle results, Dimitri Luthi ’12 has qualified to race at the NCAA Nationals hosted by Bates College, to be held March 11-14 at Black Mountain in Rumford, ME. Luthi will race in the 10K individual start classic race on March 12 and the 20K mass start freestyle race on March 14.
The alpine team will race Sunday in the GS to conclude the Colby Carnival/EISA Championships and determine the team’s overall place and to finalize the roster of Ephs heading to the NCAA Championship.
