UVM strikes back to win second straight EISA Carnival

The University of Vermont Catamounts relied on a Nordic rally to collect their second straight EISA victory at the Williams Carnival this weekend, where alpine races were contested at Jiminy Peak and Berkshire East.

On a slightly shortened giant slalom hill at Jiminy, only 0.03 seconds separated the women’s podium and the top six men were within half a second in what proved to be possibly the closest alpine race on the circuit so far this season.

GS leader Foreste Peterson of Dartmouth claimed her second GS victory of the year, this time by only 0.01 seconds over her teammate Kelly Moore. UVM’s Laurence St. Germain had the fastest second run to finish third, only 0.03 seconds behind Peterson. Fellow Catamount Mille Graesdal produced her best GS finish of the year in fourth, and Colby’s Sierra Leavitt also had a personal best result in fifth, only 0.05 behind Graesdal.

As in the women’s race, the GS leader bib reigned supreme for the men. Dom Garand once again won a carnival GS as UVM put three in the top-four finishers. Garand won by 0.10 seconds in front of Middlebury’s Rob Cone, who placed second for the second week in a row. Vermont’s Morgan Megarry and Max Roeisland came in the third and fourth place positions, only 0.03 seconds apart from each other. Saint Michael’s Guillaume Grand won the second run to finish fifth, only 0.02 in front of Dartmouth’s Kevyn Read. The Boston College men’s team also had a notably great day as Carter Robertson and Keith Schuman jumped from bibs 51 and 42 to finish 14th and 16th, respectively.

Vermont led the overall team standings by 22 points over Dartmouth heading into the slalom race with the University of New Hampshire in third, a significant 64 points behind Dartmouth.

When the EISA alpine circuit traveled to a new venue for the second half of the Williams Carnival, the atmosphere at Berkshire East did not disappoint. Unseasonably warm temperatures, bright sunshine, and even a hibernating bear at the start of the course all highlighted what turned out to be a big day for the Big Green of Dartmouth.

There might have been a black bear at the start, but it was a panther that climbed to the top of the podium in the men’s race. Middlebury’s Colin Hayes won his first carnival of the season, 0.22 seconds ahead of Dartmouth’s Brian McLaughlin of the National University Team who held the lead from the first run. Hayes’ fast release from the steeps of Berkshire East onto the flats was enough to vault him into the top position. Dartmouth’s Kevyn Read capped off a great weekend in third, while Williams’ Bryan Bailey thrilled the home crowd with a fourth-place finish. William St. Germain led UVM in fifth, followed by teammate Max Roeisland in sixth.

In the women’s race, St. Germain won her second straight EISA slalom, 1.22 seconds ahead of Dartmouth’s Moore. For the second day in a row, the Dartmouth women’s team finished at the top of the overall alpine standings as they placed three women in the top-six finishers. Alexa Dlouhy – wearing the red leader bib – finished third, only 0.07 seconds behind her teammate. Plymouth State’s Freydis Einarsdotter won the second run to finish fourth, just 0.09 seconds behind Dlouhy. Colby’s Mardi Haskell once again led the Mules in fifth after she posted the second fastest second run.

With notable results at the Nordic races contested in Lake Placid, N.Y., the University of Vermont took the carnival win with 992 points over Dartmouth College with 919 points. The University of New Hampshire raced into third with 720 total points.

EISA athletes now look forward to their final conference battle of the year at Middlebury for the NCAA Regional Championships Feb. 26-27 where the overall team title and NCAA Championship qualifications will be decided.

View full results from the Williams Carnival here.

Release and photo courtesy of EISA