Tara Humphries finished eighth out of 68 skiers in the women's 5K classical race at the NCAA East Regional Championships at Middlebury on Feb. 21, 2014. (File photo by Ian Nesbitt/EISA)

RIPTON, Vt. -- First-year Tara Humphries led a stellar effort by the Bates women's Nordic ski team in the 5K classical race at the Middlebury Carnival, which doubles as the NCAA East Regional Championships, at Rikert Touring Center on Friday.

Humphries (North Yarmouth, Maine) placed a season-best eighth out of 68 competitors in the race, covering the course in 17:51.5. Fellow first-year Sadie James (Avon, Maine) placed 14th, also a season-best, in 18:12.0, and sophomore Gracie Wright (Rutland, Vt.) came in 20th in 18:19.5 to round out Bates' scoring. Junior standout Hallie Grossman (South Woodstock, Vt.) placed 26th (18:39.0).

The Bates trio combined for 83 points, placing a season-high third among 12 teams as a unit and trailing only Dartmouth (127) and Vermont (125).

Senior captain Jordan Buetow (Fairbanks, Alaska) led Bates in the men's 10K classical race, finishing 22nd out of 68 men in 29:55.5. First-year Nathan Moreau (Falmouth, Maine) came in 45th (31:16.5) and sophomore Corky Harrer (Minneapolis, Minn.) completed the men's squad's scoring in 50th (31:31.9). Three Bates teammates trailed right behind Harrer, with senior Alex Hamilton (Truckee, Calif.) in 51st, senior Sean Woods (Gypsum, Colo.) in 53rd and first-year Max Millslagle (Bend, Ore.) 54th.

With one day left in the carnival, Bates' Nordic and alpine ski teams have a combined 210 points, seventh most among 15 teams.