Williams College Nordic Ski Team: Women Podium at Dartmouth Relays! Boys 4th!

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Women Podium at Dartmouth Relays! Boys 4th!

THIRD PLACE!!!!!!!!!!!! Kirsten, Sarah, Alice
An exciting day for the Ephs: 3x5 skate team relays. On the men's side, Keith Kantack was too sick to race, and Alex Taylor took his position on the anchor leg of Team A, leaving Caleb Lucy and Mark Johnson on the second team to forfeit their last leg.
Dimitri and Caleb, the scramble legs, started fast and took the race lead at 2 kilometers, as the course rounded into the stadium and then back out for another 2.5 km. Dimitri handed off to Evan Dethier 15 seconds off the lead pace, in 4th place. As Dartmouth and Middlebury battled for the lead out front, Evan kept the team holding onto the second pack of skiers battling for 3rd- 6th. He handed off to Alex Taylor who made up some time on the course, picked off a couple teams in front of him, and finished in 4th.
In the women's race, Alice Nelson started conservatively and moved her way up the pack until she handed off to Sarah Tory in 4th place. Sarah kept the team in the running by keeping the podium in sight before handing off to Kirsten Johnson. Kirsten got very sick last weekend after the first race and Saturday was the first test on her body in a week. Feeling strong , Johnson made up the gap to third place over the 5 kilometer course, finishing behind Dartmouth and UVM.
Then the real fun: As usual, during the Dartmouth Carnival, there were Valentine "Carnie Crushes" given out from individual to individual and team to team. Lots of songs, poems, cards, posters, and dances were exhibited - and lots of smiles. :)
Results
Photos (thanks to Deb Nelson for "crush" photos!)

Dimitri and Caleb, leading the first leg of the men's relay - apparently they weren't listening at the coach's pep-talk, where "Pacing" was the theme - but they did provide a real thrill for the Williams spectators to see all that cow print up front!