EAST BURKE, Vt./JACKSON, N.H. - Sophomore Helene Kristoffersen (Rælingen, Norway/Dønski VGS) placed second in the giant slalom on Friday to highlight a trio of Saint Michael's College skiing top-10 finishes on the opening day of the University of New Hampshire Carnival. Alpine races took place across the state at Burke Mountain Resort, while Nordic teams competed in New Hampshire at Jackson Nordic Center.
CARNIVAL FACTS
- The Saint Michael's Alpine and Nordic teams stand seventh among 14 schools following the opening day of the carnival, having totaled 220 points, just eight short of sixth-place Harvard University.
- Alpine and Nordic races occurred on the same day for only the second time this Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association (EISA) carnival season, in the third carnival, as weather and venue conditions have altered the original schedule.
ALPINE
CARNIVAL FACTS
- As a team, the Purple Knight men and women stand fourth following the opening day with 169 points, behind only Middlebury College (181), the University of Vermont (199) and Dartmouth College (221).
- The men tied Dartmouth for second place in the GS, with 99 points. Only UVM (122) exceeded that total.
- On the women's side, the Purple Knights tied for sixth (70) with host New Hampshire, coming within seven points of UVM for fifth place.
- Through just six races this winter, Purple and Gold men's and women's Alpine skiers have reached the podium - necessitating a top-three finish - four times already, matching their total from the entire 2022 season.
WOMEN'S LEADERS
- Sophomore Helene Kristoffersen (Rælingen, Norway/Dønski VGS), 2nd in giant slalom, 2:12.35
- Started in No. 1 bib
- First after opening run (1:05.16)
- Third career podium
- Second podium in as many GS races this season, also taking second at Bates College Carnival on Jan. 12
- Sophomore Margrethe Frøland (Rælingen, Norway/Dønski VGS), 32nd, 2:18.98
- Sophomore Sofie Gjetsund (Oslo, Norway/Persbråten VGS), 47th, 2:21.68
MEN'S LEADERS
- Sophomore Eirik Kveno (Asker, Norway/Dønski VGS), 5th in giant slalom, 2:09.22 two-run combined time
- Stood 10th after opening run, taking second in second run
- Sixth career top-5 finish
- Junior Simen Strand (Høvik, Norway/Dønski VGS), 8th, 2:09.81
- Ninth career top-10 finish
- First-year Gray Flanagan (West Burke, Vt./Green Mountain Valley School), 13th, 2:10.45
- Started in No. 30 bib
- Stood 18th after opening run
- Career-high finish
NORDIC
CARNIVAL FACTS
- The Purple Knight men tallied 31 points, coming within two of Saint Lawrence University.
MEN'S LEADERS
- Junior Charles Martell (Essex, Vt./Essex), 34th in 5K freestyle, 11:50.6
- Sophomore Declan Hutchinson (Duluth, Minn./Marshall School), 35th, 11:52.5
- Senior Gaelan Boyle-Wight (Newry, Maine/Telstar Regional), 56th, 12:13.1
- First-year Mitchell Townsend (Gilford, N.H./Gilford), 66th, 12:23.5
- Senior Joey Del Toro (Woodbury, Minn./East Ridge), 71st, 12:32.7
- First-year Ian Morse (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East), 74th, 12:42.5
WOMEN'S LEADERS
- First-year Clara Wyatt (Bozeman, Mont./Bozeman), 52nd in 5K freestyle, 14:26.0
- Sophomore Izzy Quam (Stillwater, Minn./Mounds Park Academy), 68th, 15:02.3
- First-year Astrid Bakke (Nedre Høvik, Norway/Dønski VGS), 69th, 15:02.5
- Junior Katie Culliton (Glens Falls, N.Y./Glens Falls), 74th, 15:13.0
- Senior Grace Erholtz (Baxter, Minn./Brainerd), 78th, 15:58.0
- First-year Jocelyn Sommers (Dalton, Mass./Wahconah Regional), 81st, 16:12.5
- Junior Cambelle Nutting (Vassalboro, Maine/Maranacook Community), 82nd, 17:41.9
NEXT SAINT MICHAEL'S EVENT
- Saturday at UNH Carnival, 9 a.m.
