2008 Woodie Awards
Nordic skiing has strongest season in Colby history
John Waller
Issue date: 2/9/07 Section: Sports
The Colby nordic teams are off to a hot start this year, with both men's and women's teams dominating their Division I competition on a regular basis. The teams continued their success at the University of Vermont Carnival on Friday in a 20K classic race at the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont.
The men finished second as a team thanks to a great overall effort. It was the first time in four years that a team other than Dartmouth College, the University of Vermont or Middlebury College has finished in the top two in a carnival.
"It has been a spectacular year so far," Captain Fred Bailey `07 said. "Each weekend we get better and better. Historically, it is the best Colby team we have ever had."
Bailey was the top Mule across the line, finishing seventh, but Nick Kline, in the midst of a breakout junior year, was right behind his senior leader in eighth.
Bailey said that Kline's skiing has been a huge addition to the team this year and that he has earned himself a chance at going to NCAA Championships.
"Kline is in there fighting for the last NCAA spot right now," Bailey said. "And we have not had a Nordic skier go to NCAA's in five years."
Bailey said that if Kline has one more top ten finish, it is looking like he has a solid chance to go. Bailey is looking good in his own right, sitting ninth right now with eleven skiers qualifying for NCAA's. Bailey said he is feeling confident but nothing is definite yet. "One of my goals was to finish in the top ten every weekend," Bailey said. "And I have been able to in every week but one."
Austin Ross `08, John Swain `08 and Matt Briggs `09 rounded out the Mules top five, finishing in fifteenth, twenty-second and twenty third, respectively.
It was Ross's first top twenty finish and best race since his first year in the program. Silas Gill '09 also skied well and finished eighth at Sunday's Eastern Cup, Briggs finished fourth.
The women's team also topped their success on Friday with a fifth place finish, one of their best results in recent memory.
"This year they are just stepping up big time," Bailey said.
Kathleen Maynard `09 cracked single digits for the first time in her Colby career, out-sprinting a number of her opponents on the final stretch for a ninth place finish.
Mandy Ivey '10 was twenty-eighth for the Mules and finished eighth in Sunday's Eastern Cup. Linnea Rooke '09 had the race of her life on Friday according to Bailey with a thirty-seventh place finish in the tough field.
Saturday was also kind to the Nordic teams with both teams finishing eighth overall, including open teams, in three by five kilometer relays. It was the women's first top ten finish in a relay.
Bailey said that both team's success has been their ability to ski well in both skate and classic events. "We have the potential to get six guys in the top twenty on a good day but we shall see," Bailey said.
The men finished second as a team thanks to a great overall effort. It was the first time in four years that a team other than Dartmouth College, the University of Vermont or Middlebury College has finished in the top two in a carnival.
"It has been a spectacular year so far," Captain Fred Bailey `07 said. "Each weekend we get better and better. Historically, it is the best Colby team we have ever had."
Bailey was the top Mule across the line, finishing seventh, but Nick Kline, in the midst of a breakout junior year, was right behind his senior leader in eighth.
Bailey said that Kline's skiing has been a huge addition to the team this year and that he has earned himself a chance at going to NCAA Championships.
"Kline is in there fighting for the last NCAA spot right now," Bailey said. "And we have not had a Nordic skier go to NCAA's in five years."
Bailey said that if Kline has one more top ten finish, it is looking like he has a solid chance to go. Bailey is looking good in his own right, sitting ninth right now with eleven skiers qualifying for NCAA's. Bailey said he is feeling confident but nothing is definite yet. "One of my goals was to finish in the top ten every weekend," Bailey said. "And I have been able to in every week but one."
Austin Ross `08, John Swain `08 and Matt Briggs `09 rounded out the Mules top five, finishing in fifteenth, twenty-second and twenty third, respectively.
It was Ross's first top twenty finish and best race since his first year in the program. Silas Gill '09 also skied well and finished eighth at Sunday's Eastern Cup, Briggs finished fourth.
The women's team also topped their success on Friday with a fifth place finish, one of their best results in recent memory.
"This year they are just stepping up big time," Bailey said.
Kathleen Maynard `09 cracked single digits for the first time in her Colby career, out-sprinting a number of her opponents on the final stretch for a ninth place finish.
Mandy Ivey '10 was twenty-eighth for the Mules and finished eighth in Sunday's Eastern Cup. Linnea Rooke '09 had the race of her life on Friday according to Bailey with a thirty-seventh place finish in the tough field.
Saturday was also kind to the Nordic teams with both teams finishing eighth overall, including open teams, in three by five kilometer relays. It was the women's first top ten finish in a relay.
Bailey said that both team's success has been their ability to ski well in both skate and classic events. "We have the potential to get six guys in the top twenty on a good day but we shall see," Bailey said.
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