BURLINGTON, VT -- The Williams ski team used solid performances across the board to finish fifth at day one of the St. Michael's Carnival. The team, which accumulated 330 points on the day, currently sits only 19 points behind fourth place Middlebury.
The men's nordic team did not perform as well as they had hoped, but thanks to their depth, had a good day nonetheless. It was the junior class that did all the scoring in the 15 km skate race, with Keith Kantack as the top Williams finisher in 12th. Kantack was followed closely by classmate Caleb Lucy, who finished a career best 13th place. Evan Dethier, the team's most consistent skier thus far, finished 17th, just under 3 seconds out of 14th. The team finished 6th, but scored 79 points, putting them only seven points out of 4th. Dartmouth's Nils Koons won the race in 43:02.
The women's nordic team had its best day yet, placing two in the top fifteen of the 10km skate. Alice Nelson finished in 7th place, her best result since 2008. Junior Kirsten Johnson 26 seconds behind Nelson in 11th place. Rounding out the scoring was junior Sarah Tory who placed 27th. The women finished 4th on the day, accumulating 81 points. Dartmouth's Erika Flowers won the race in 31:10.
The men's alpine team is starting to get back into form, finishing the giant slalom in fifth with 85 points. Three men fell today, but the three that did not all finished in the top twenty five. Captain Alex Dyroff led the way with a seventh place finish, his best on the year. Close behind was Sean Cummiskey, who used a strong second run to end up 12th. Junior Jeff Putnam rounded out the scoring with a 21st- one off his personal best finish. Dartmouth's Ace Tarberry won the race.
On the strength of first year Geordie Lonza's top five finish, the women's alpine team ended the day tied for fourth with 85 points. Lonza's fifth place is the best of her young career. She was followed by senior Kelsey Levine, who finished 11th, and Laurel Carter, who finished 26th. Vermont's Meghan Ryley won the race.
Tomorrow, the alpine team contests the slalom at Smugglers' Notch, while the nordic skiers will race a classic sprint relay on the narrow trails of Sleepy Hollow.
