Sargent, Blackhorse-Von Jess Top Podium – Dartmouth Jumps To Early Lead In 2008 EISA Opener

RUMFORD — Victories by first-year Ida Sargent and junior Dakota Blackhorse-Von Jess helped Dartmouth College take an early lead after the first day of competition at the 2008 Bates College Carnival.

Dartmouth and Colby dominated the women’s and men’s fields respectively on a drizzling day at Rumford, Maine hosted by Bates College as the Eastern Carnival Circuit kicked off its season. Rumford survived the January meltdown plaguing the east coast to put on a typical good show with decent snow conditions and great organization and class.

Dartmouth’s Ida Sargent skied to victory in 12:59 in the women’s 5k skate race followed closely by Alexa Turzian of Middlebury in 13:04. These two freshmen outpaced the rest of the field with Dartmouth’s Elsa Sargent rounding out the podium in 13:24. The Big Green placed 5 women in the top ten to easily take the team tally.

On the men’s side, Colby College was the story of the day with four men in the top seven, turning some heads with a men’s team score lead. Dartmouth again took the individual victory with senior Dakota Blackhorse von Jess who won the 10k skate in a tightly contested race. Only 10 seconds separated the podium, and only one minute divided the top 15 places. Tim Reynolds of Middlebury and Wyatt Fereday of Colby were second and third.

Matt Briggs (4th), Sam Mathes, (6th) and Silas Gill (7th) joined teammate Fereday in the top seven. Bowdoin skiers Walt Shepard in 5th and Forrest Horton in 8th made it places 3 through 8 for Maine schools Colby and Bowdoin.

With the alpine races delayed until Saturday and Sunday in hopes of harder snow, Dartmouth currently leads the Carnival with a combined score of 176 points. Middlebury is in the hunt with 150 followed by UNH with 133 points. Saturday features a 10k classic for both the men and the women, with more rain in the forecast.

Information about the remaining schedule, as well as full results and up-to-date team standings can be found at www.eisaskiing.org.