RUMFORD, Maine – Joachim Jagge Lindstol earned his first career EISA win in the men's slalom one of five podium finishes for the Catamounts on the opening day of the Bates Carnival Friday in Maine. After the first day of competition Vermont is in first place with 447 points, 29 ahead of second-place Middlebury.
 
Lindstol claimed his sixth podium of the season winning the men's slalom with a two-run time of 1:50.15. He had the fastest first run (52.82) and second run (57.33) in the field. Spencer Smith was the Catamounts next scorer, placing 9th overall with a time of 1:53.42. Raphael Quenneville earned 26 points for Vermont as the 15th place finisher. He had a two-run time of 1:55.56. The men's team earned 109 points for the Catamounts.
 
The women's Nordic team had a very strong showing at Black Mountain on Friday morning placing four skiers in the top-six of the 15k Classic. The Catamounts top-three finishers all turned in their best performances of the season. Anna Bizyukova earned her first podium of the season placing second overall with a time of 46:00.07. Her final 5k time of 15:03.9 was the second fastest 5k in the field Friday. Margie Freed also earned her first podium coming in third 6.5 seconds behind Bizyukova. Waverly Gebhardt was the Catamounts final scorer placing fourth overall in a time of 46:09.7. The women's team earned 132 points just finishing ahead of Middlebury who earned 124.
 
The men's Nordic squad followed suit with three skiers in the top-five. Ben Ogden finished second overall earning his fifth straight podium with a time of 55:59.8 in the 20k Classic. Bill Harmeyer finished third for Vermont with a time of 57:39.1, it was his third podium of the season. Ian Moore was the Catamounts final scorer, placing fifth overall with a time of 58:45.2. The team earned 130 points, most in the field by 23.
 
Caroline Jones was the top finisher for the women's alpine squad. She placed in a tie for11th overall with a combined run time of 1:52:52. Hannah Hunsaker scored points in the second straight race for the Catamounts placing 18th in a combined run time of 1:53.04. Rachael DesRochers was the Catamounts final scorer she placed 19th overall just .17 seconds after Hunsaker. The women's team earned 76 points on the opening day.
 
The 2020 Bates Carnival will conclude tomorrow in Maine. The men's and women's giant slalom will take place at Sunday River starting at 10:15 a.m. At Black Mountain the men and women will compete in the 5k/10k Freestyle beginning with the women's race at 10 a.m.
 
Idletyme is the presenting sponsor of the 2020 skiing season.