Bold statement by East, Dartmouth in lead at NCAAs

By Published On: March 7th, 2012Comments Off on Bold statement by East, Dartmouth in lead at NCAAs

The RMISA and Central division have talented individual nordic athletes, but team scoring for the opening day of competition at NCAA National Championships went to the East. On the strength of both its men’s and women’s nordic teams, Dartmouth College skated its way into the lead at NCAAs today (March 7) at Bohart Ranch in Bozeman, Mont. after collecting 214 points. Vermont’s women’s team placed three skiers in the top-8, sealing that victory, and the Catamounts currently sit second in the overall standings with 183 points. Utah is a close third with 179.

In the women’s 5k freestyle race, Utah’s Maria Graefnings—a serious threat for both titles—won by almost 20 seconds over runner-up Caitlin Patterson of Vermont. Utah’s next scoring skier, Parker Tyler, crossed the finish line in twentieth while Vermont’s Lucy Garrec was fourth and Amy Glen eighth. Dartmouth’s Sophie Caldwell rounded out the podium in third and she was supported by teammates Erika Flowers in seventh and Annie Hart in ninth, propelling the Big Green into second place for team scoring in the event. Alaska’s Jaime Bronga was fifth and Colorado’s Joanne Reid sixth.

Northern Michigan’s Erik Soderman stole the show in the men’s 10k freestyle, finishing 25 seconds ahead of Utah’s Miles Havlick. Dartmouth’s Sam Tarling was third, while his teammates Eric Packer finished eighth and Gordon Vermeer thirteenth. The Dartmouth men’s team claimed victory in the event. Montana’s Michael Schallinger was just off the podium in fourth, Colorado’s Rune Oedegaard fifth, and Utah’s Didrik Smith sixth.

Alpine competitions start tomorrow (March 8) at Bridger Bowl in Bozeman, Mont. with the giant slalom races.

Team scores at the conclusion of Nordic freestyle races (Day 1) of NCAA National Championships:
Dartmouth – 214
Vermont – 183
Utah – 179
Montana State – 176
Colorado – 154
Northern Michigan – 154
Denver – 118
Alaska Anchorage – 112
New Mexico – 74
Middlebury – 60
St. Scholastica – 49
Bates – 40
Alaska Fairbanks – 34
St. Lawrence – 24
Williams – 20
New Hampshire – 19
Harvard – 13
Michigan Tech – 13
Colby – 8

Photo of Vermont and Dartmouth women racing classic earlier this season by Cory Ransom

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About the Author: C.J. Feehan

Christine J. Feehan is a USSA Level 300 coach who spent more than a decade training athletes at U.S. ski academies - Burke, Sugar Bowl, and Killington - before serving as Editor in Chief at Ski Racing Media through 2017. She worked for the FIS on the World Cup tour for three years and then settled into her current home in Oslo, Norway.