HANCOCK, Vt. and RIPTON, Vt. – Junior Luke Kearing (eighth), senior Matt Ryan (12^th), and first-year Duncan Armstrong (17^th) all posted top-20 finishes in men's slalom to pace Harvard University skiing on day one of the Middlebury Carnival on Friday.
 
In alpine action at the Middlebury Snowbowl, Kearing (eighth), Ryan (12^th), and Armstrong (17^th) led the Crimson in men's slalom with Kearing and Ryan both posting season-best finishes. Behind its three top-20 finishes, the Crimson's men's contingent came in fifth place as a group in men's slalom.
 
In nordic competition at the Rikert Outdoor Center, senior Tali Wong (31^st), sophomore Clara Lake (33^rd), and sophomore Breagh Bridge (42^nd) paced Harvard in the women's sprint classic while first-year Elias Soulé (32^nd) led the Crimson in the men's sprint classic.
 
As a team, Harvard stands in eighth place out of 14 EISA schools with 172 points.
 
Harvard will close competition at the Middlebury Carnival tomorrow – Saturday, Feb. 15 – with alpine competing in the giant slalom and nordic taking part in the 10k classic.

Harvard Highlights: Alpine Day 1

• Junior Luke Kearing posted a season-best eighth-place finish in men's slalom, notching his first top-10 effort of the year and third top-30 showing. He clocked a time of 1:32.90 (45.41 run one, 47.49 run two) for 33 EISA points and 32 NCAA points.
• Senior Matt Ryan came in a season-best 12^th place in men's slalom, tallying his third top-20 finish of the year and fifth top-30 effort. Ryan placed fifth in run two as part of his effort. He notched a 1:33.22 (46.25 run one, 46.97 run two) on the day for 28 EISA points and 22 NCAA points.
• First-year Duncan Amstrong placed 17^th in men's slalom behind a 1:33.42 (45.68 run one, 47.74 run two) for 24 EISA points and 14 NCAA points. He posted his sixth top-20 finish of the year and seventh top-30.
• First-year Emma Speiser paced the women's side with a 35^th-place finish (1:42.01, 51.82 run one, 50.19 run two) for 15 EISA point).
• Behind its three top-20 finishers, the Crimson's men's contingent came in fifth place as a team in men's slalom with the group totaling 85 points. 

Harvard Highlights: Nordic Day 1                                                                                                     

• In the women's sprint classic, senior Tali Wong (31^st place, 4:14.63, 18 EISA points), sophomore Clara Lake (33^rd place, 4:15.04, 16 EISA points), and sophomore Breagh Bridge (42^nd place, 4:14.58, 12 EISA points) paced the Crimson.
• First-year Elias Soulé led the men's side in the sprint classic, placing 32^nd with a time of 3:33.87 for 17 EISA points and two NCAA points.

Harvard Results 

Friday: Women's Slalom

35.) Emma Speiser (Bib 70), 1:42.01 (51.82 run one, 50.19 run two), 15 Points
DNF – Run 2) Emma Lenoël Quang (Bib 31) 

Friday: Men's Slalom

8.) Luke Kearing (Bib 26): 1:32.90 (45.41 run one, 47.49 run two), 33 EISA Points, 32 NCAA Points
12.) Matt Ryan (Bib 21): 1:33.22 (46.25 run one, 46.97 run two), 28 EISA Points, 22 NCAA Points
17.) Duncan Armstrong (Bib 18): 1:33.42 (45.68 run one, 47.74 run two), 24 EISA Points, 14 NCAA Points
DNQ – Run 2) Lucas Brumm (Bib 75) 

Friday: Women's Sprint Classic

31.) Tali Wong (Bib 123): 4:14.63, 18 EISA Points, 1 NCAA Point
33.) Clara Lake (Bib 135): 4:15.04, 16 EISA Points
42.) Breagh Bridge (Bib 140): 4:18.58, 12 EISA Points
54.) Hanna Wilsey (Bib 160): 4:22.95
66.) Hayden McJunkin (Bib 128): 4:28.54

Friday: Men's Sprint Classic

32.) Elias Soulé (Bib 3): 3:33.87, 17 EISA Points, 2 NCAA Points
68.) Bennett Hutchison (Bib 48): 3:42.26, 5 EISA Points
86.) Cyrus Hamlin (Bib 86): 3:55.70, 4 EISA Points 

Team Scores (Day 1)

1.) Middlebury: 348.5
2.) Dartmouth: 432
3.) Vermont: 356.5
4.) New Hampshire: 344
5.) Colby: 317.5
6.) Williams: 204
7.) Saint Michael's: 188
8.) Harvard: 172
9.) St. Lawrence: 148
10.) Bowdoin: 135
11.) Boston College: 134
12.) Bates: 121
13.) Plymouth State: 95.5
14.) Colby Sawyer: 18 

Next Up

Harvard will close competition at the Middlebury Carnival tomorrow – Saturday, Feb. 15 – with alpine competing in the giant slalom and nordic taking part in the 10k classic.
 
Next weekend, Harvard will compete at the New Hampshire Carnival and NCAA Regional Championships from Feb. 21-22 with alpine events at Mittersill in Franconia, New Hampshire and nordic events at Jackson XC in Jackson, New Hampshire.