RIPTON, Vt. -- The Bates women's Nordic skiing team netted a pair of top-25 performances on their way to a tie for fifth place out of 11 schools in the 7.5K freestyle race Friday at the Middlebury Carnival, which doubles as the Eastern Intercollegiate Ski Association Championships. 

As she has all year, senior captain Olivia Cuneo (St. George, Vt.) paced the Bobcats, racing to the finish in 26:13.3, good for 22nd place in a field of 65 skiers. Cuneo earned 26 carnival points and nine NCAA points. Meanwhile, senior Rebecca Feist (Fairlee, Vt.) was right behind her teammate, coming in 23rd with a time of 26:17.3 and earning 25 carnival points to go along with eight NCAA points. Junior Katie Watt (Concord, N.H.) rounded out the scoring for the women's team in 36th with a time of 27:32, earning 17 carnival points.

On the men's side, senior captain Cal Schrupp (Gilford, N.H.) led the way for Bates, taking 18th place in a field of 61 with a time of 21:59.1, good for 25 carnival points and 13 NCAA points. Junior Mathias Boudreau-Golfman (Londonderry, Vt.) and first-year Wyatt Teaford (Peru, Vt.) rounded out the scoring for the men's team in 37th and 42nd place respectively.

Combined, the Bates Nordic and alpine skiing teams sit in sixth place out of 14 schools with 225 carnival points through one day of action at the Middlebury Carnival. The Nordic skiing teams are back in action Saturday morning at 10:00 when they compete in the 20K classical technique race.