The Return of the Mountain: 35th Greylock Schnellsteigen

One of the panoramic views from the top of Mt Greylock

After a 4 year hiatus (due to road construction) the Williams nordic team was joined by the men's crew team to once again partake in the annual race up Mt Greylock, known as The Schnellsteigen. For the last 4 years the team has raced a modified 'schnell' through Hopkins forest to Peteresburg Pass, so it was with much excitement and anticipation that the teams returned to the real mountain challenge. It was a cold and windy morning, the overnight rains making the trail slippery with leaves and mud, but that didn't stop a number of racers from posting times that were fast enough to etch their names forever onto the Schnellstein Honor Roll. There are no real prizes for this grueling race, only glory - and honor. In order to make the Honor Roll, men have to run under an hour and women have to run under 76 minutes. The trail is about 5 miles, with a net elevation gain of over 3,000 feet.


The start!

Halfway: Women's winner, Sarah Tory, is still smiling. . . .

Men's winner Mark Johnson runs the last steep climb to the top, Phil right on this heels.

Casey stretches toward the finish line, the Greylock memorial seen towering in the background.

Maddy sprints to the finish.

Top Ten Men and Women (*marks honor roll achievement)

MEN

1. *MARK JOHNSON 55:00 XC

2. *PHIL TOSTESON 55:05 XC

3. *TOPHER SABOT 56:00 XC ALUM

4. * KEITH KANTACK 57:16 XC

5. *CASEY JONES 57:31 XC

6. *ROBBY CUTHBERT 58:17 XC

7. * DAN CASTANZA 59:36 CREW

8. NAT HERZ 61:41 BOWDOIN XC ALUM

9. CALEB LUCY 63:35 XC

10. PATRICK JOSLIN 63:58 XC

WOMEN

1. *SARAH TORY 64:44 XC

2. * KIRSTEN JOHNSON 70:50 XC

3. * JEN MYGATT 72:45 DARTMOUTH XC ALUM

4. *CHRISTINA KNAPP 75:06 XC

5. HANNAH HAUSMAN 76:18 XC

6. MADDY WENDT 77:50 XC

7. JULIA SEIFERTH 85:05 XC