Chauncey Morgan/Alpine Skiing | Colby College
Chauncey Morgan/Alpine Skiing | Colby College
The morning started with a scary site for racers and coaches. High winds put chairlifts on wind holds and endangered the status of the race. But, when coaches finally got on the hill, they discovered a hard surface that had locked up overnight. The near-perfect snow and dying wind meant a lights-out day of racing at Waterville Valley.
The Colby ski team flying high from the previous day's win encountered high-speed courses that made hard-charging skiing a requirement for success. The men were up first, with three Mules starting inside the top 30; they got an early crack at the set. Tucker Strauch skied a solid error-free run to ski into 20th. Also finishing in the top 30 after the first run was Chauncey Morgan, who was still in a position to pounce on the second run despite some conservative skiing. Sandwiched between Morgan in 26th and Strauch was first-year Brooks Reed, who has recently shown incredible speed in Slalom; he slotted in at 23rd.
The women's race was defined by tight margins, with just seven-hundredths of a second separating the podium and 1.85 seconds separating the top 30. The Mules put two ladies in the top 15, led by Cassie Lieblein in 13th and Ella Spear in 15th. Also finishing the first run in the top 30 was Carissa Cassidy in 26th.
A little more turn shape from the Dartmouth coaching staff on the second run provided an added challenge for the men. But Morgan was well up to the task. His superb second run moved him up to 11th place. Strauch also moved up on the field, finishing the day in 18th. Reed, who has been a presence on the circuit all season despite the difficulties all freshmen face, grabbed some more EISA points in 23rd.
The women's second run set by the University of Vermont offered little rhythm or time for the ladies to adjust. The challenging set took Lieblein out of the running when she was forced to hike. But she will remain in the top group of skiers despite her error. Likewise, a mistake from Spear in the same spot moved her down to 22nd. However, Cassidy provided a bright spot on the women's side. After a series of DNF's, she is starting to find her groove. A top 10-second run left her in 17th. Lydia Riddell coming in hot after her fifth place in the previous day's GS, added a third scorer in 28th.
On the team side, the men finished the day in fifth and the women in sixth. They will look to bounce back next Friday with the Williams Carnival at Jiminy Peak. Ponchos may need to be broken out, but the Mules will come out to fight.
Original source can be found here
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