Day one of the Middlebury Carnival saw EISA skiers compete
in distance skate mass starts, 15-kilometers for the women and 20-kilometers
for the men. Racing took place at the Rikert Nordic Center in Ripton, Vermont.
After a week of storms and falling snow, the five-kilometer course was in pristine
condition and presented racers with a quality test of endurance, strength, and
agility. Skiers faced long gradual climbs followed by sweeping descents with
sharp turns that demanded expert cornering. The course proved challenging and
multiple lead changes occurred throughout both races.
Despite the challenges, it was the skiers from Dartmouth College
that rose to the top as they earned wins in both races and four out of six
podium spots combined. Abigail Drach skied to victory in the women’s race with
a time of 40:02.5. In the men’s race, Fabian Stocek earned his sixth individual
EISA victory of the season with a winning time of 46:17.9.
In the women’s race, it was Vermont’s Alayna Sonnesyn who
took the early lead. Close behind, a pack of racers kept close, eager for a
taste of the front. Going into the last lap Drach moved into second behind
Sonnesyn to position herself well for the finish. As racers came out of the
woods for the final time, it was Drach who led the rest and stormed up the
final climb to take her first individual EISA victory of the season. Behind
her, Sonnesyn finished second, sixteen seconds back. Third place went to
Dartmouth’s Lauren Jortberg, forth to New Hampshire’s Elizabeth Gill, and fifth
place to Dartmouth’s Zoe Snow.
In the team competition, Dartmouth earned a comfortable
victory with 127 points to runner-up Vermont’s 102 points. Third place went to
the University of New Hampshire with 85 points.
In the men’s race, a lead pack of ten skiers was established
by the end of the first lap. Over the course of the next 10-kilometers, numerous
skiers from Dartmouth, Williams, and Colby took turns at the front, attempting
to break from the pack. The largest break came halfway through the race when Williams
skier Jordan Fields came through the courses midway point with a ten second
lead. Ultimately, it was Stocek who’s tactics were rewarded as he came to the
front in the races final minutes to continue his winning ways. Second place went
to teammate Luke Brown. Third place went to Colby’s Zane Fields. Fourth place was
earned by Jordan Fields and fifth place by Eli Honeig also of Williams.
Dartmouth men matched the women’s result with a 141 point
victory. Williams College placed second with 109 points. Third place went to
the University of Vermont with 97 points.