Strong showings by junior Matt Delaney (Lake Placid, NY) and freshman Alex Benway (Queensbury, NY) highlighted the Clarkson University Nordic Ski team’s 25th appearance in the United States Collegiate Ski Association (USCSA) National Championships.
The high racing altitude of 8,800 ft at Devil’s Thumb Ranch in Winter Park, CO and team illness took its toll, however, as the Golden Knights were not at their best against the high powered teams from out West during the nationals, which were held on March 3-8.
The Clarkson men finished in sixth place combined out of 10 teams with 231 points, trailing fifth-place Army by just seven points. University of Wyoming won the men's championship with 25 points.
The Golden Knight women were fifth combined out of seven teams with 193 points while University of Wyoming won the women's title with 67 points.
Clarkson’s top skier, Delaney became more ill each day and was unable to compete in the 15k race, making him ineligible for the individual overall results.
The Clarkson men opened the championships with a strong showing in the 1.5k sprint on March 4, placing third with two individuals posting top 10 finishes. Delaney led the way for the Golden Knights with an 8th-place time of 3:09.8. Benway was 10th (3:18.3). Junior Chris Lamothe (Colchester, VT) finished 21st (3:38.2). Delaney and Benway earned second-team All-American honors for their effort in the event.
Benway led the Green and Gold in the 8.5k classic race, edging out Delaney for Clarkson’s top finish with a 17th-place time of 28:44 as Clarkson finished fourth. Delaney finished right behind with a time of 28:57. Junior Andy Nadeau (Irondequoit, NY) placed 23rd (29:45).
In Friday’s 15k freestyle, Benway placed 18th (42:22), followed by Lamothe in 25th (43:28) and senior Derrick Day (Honeoye Falls, NY) in 27th (43:48) as the Knights came in eighth as a team.
The Knights 3x5k relay team of Benway, Day and Matt Rowe came in eighth in Saturday's race with a time of 57:39.3
In the women’s 1.5k sprint on March 3, Clarkson placed fifth. Senior Chelsea Reynolds (Endicott, NY) was the Knights’ leading skier with a 15th-place time of 4:47.6. Sophomore Alicia Perras (Portsmouth, RI) was 20th (5:25.7), followed by freshmen Andrea Walsh (Underhill Center, VT) in 21st (5:32.3) and Alyssa Dausman (Syracuse, NY) in 22nd (5:49.4).
Reynolds again led the Clarkson women in the 8.5k classic event on March 4 with an 18th-place time of 39:07 as the Knights finished fifth as a team. Walsh was right behind in 19th place (40:23) with Dausman and Perras finishing 22nd (43:15) and 23rd (44:44), respectively.
In the 15k freestyle race on March 6, Clarkson came in sixth with Reynolds leading the way with a 13th-place time of 52:50.9. Walsh, Dausman and Perras placed 18th (59:13.8), 20th (1:00:16.2) and 22nd (1:02:31.5), respectively.
Walsh, Perras and Reynolds combined to take fifth in Saturday's 3x5k relay event with a time of 1:08:08.8.