Sadie James placed 32nd out of 40 athletes on the first day of Nordic skiing at the 2017 NCAA National Collegiate Skiing Championships in Jackson, N.H., on March 9, 2017. (Steve Fuller / flyingpointroad.com)

JACKSON, N.H. -- Bates senior Sadie James placed 32nd out of 40 athletes Thursday in the 5-kilometer classical technique interval start race, on the first day of Nordic skiing at the 2017 NCAA National Collegiate Skiing Championships.

James (Avon, Maine), making her second appearance at NCAAs, finished the course at Jackson Touring Center in 16:54.7, 3 seconds faster than Montana State's Johanna Talihaerm and Dartmouth's Lydia Blanchet, who tied for 33rd place.

Midway through the NCAA Championships, Bates' combined Nordic and alpine contingent stand in 15th place out of 21 teams. With 16 points, Bates is a point ahead of St. Michael's and 23 points behind 14th-place Alaska-Fairbanks.

Day 1 Women's Nordic Results

NCAA Team Standings