Sadie James placed 13th out of 104 women in the 1.5-kilometer classic sprint race at the Bates Carnival on Jan. 15, 2016. (EISA file photo)

WATERVILLE, Maine -- The Bates Nordic ski team opened the 2016 Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association circuit on Friday at the Bates Carnival, racing a 1.5-kilometer classical technique sprint at Quarry Road Recreation Area. The season-opening races are being held at Colby's home site due to trail condition considerations this week.

Junior Sadie James (Avon, Maine) placed 13th among 104 individuals to lead the Bates women's Nordic team, covering the course in 4:18.7. Sophomore Halie Lange (Brattleboro, Vt.) placed 19th overall in 4:20.5 and senior captain Grace Wright (Rutland, Vt.) rounded out the team scoring in 31st place overall (4:25.2). The Bates women were sixth out of 14 squads in the event, with 66 points, based on their top three performers on the day. Junior Laurel Fiddler (Crowley Lake, Calif.) placed 32nd, just 0.2 seconds behind Wright.

Sophomore Connor Gray (Whitefish, Mont.) paced the Bates men's squad, timing in at 3:41.4 to edge Bowdoin's Malcolm Groves and Colby's Zane Fields for 28th place among 91 individuals. Senior Corky Harrer (Minneapolis, Minn.) and junior captain Max Millslagle (Bend, Ore.) were 39th (3:44.1) and 41st (3:44.6) to round out the Bates men's scoring.

The Nordic skiing portion of the Bates Carnival will conclude Saturday morning at Quarry Road with the women's 5K and men's 10K freestyle races. The alpine portion of the Bates Carnival is taking place at Bates' Sunday River home site.