The Lakehead Thunderwolves are poised to repeat as champions at the OUA Nordic Skiing Championships at Lappe.
The Thunderwolves men, seeking a second straight title, hold a commanding 18-point lead over the Carleton Ravens after Day 1 of the event, while the women, winners of eight straight OUA championships, are up nine points on the Ravens.
Andrea Lee and Alannah MacLean raced the LU women’s team into the early lead on Saturday, finishing first and second respectively in the five-kilometre freestyle faced, Lee winning by a comfortable 28.3 seconds.
In the men’s 10-kilometre freestyle race, Carleton’s Ben Wilkinson eked out a one-second win, but Lakehead’s Scott Hill, Victor Hopper, Ben Jones and Nick Monete were the next four skiers to cross the line.
Lakehead also took both the men’s and women’s freestyle 3.75-kilometre relays, taking second on the men’s side and fifth in the women’s as well.
The LU women have 22 points after Day 1. Carleton checks in with 31, while Guelph is third with 58. On the men’s side, it’s Lakehead with 17 points, Carleton with 35, Waterloo well back with 86 and Guelph in fourth with 127.
The event wraps up on Sunday.
The women’s classic 10-kilometre mass-start race is scheduled for 10 a.m., while the men’s 15-kilometre race goes at 11 a.m.
STANDINGS:
Women
1. Lakehead (22 pts)
2. Carleton (31 pts)
3. Guelph (58 pts)
Men
1. Lakehead (17 pts)
2. Carleton (35 pts)
3. Waterloo (86 pts)
4. Guelph (127 pts)
Women's 5km Freestyle (Top 10 out of 45) (time gap between 1st and 2nd)
1. Andrea Lee (Lakehead) (-28.3 s)
2. Alannah Maclean (Lakehead)
3. Kendra Murray (Carleton)
4. Mary Thompson (Guelph)
5. Anna Crawford (Carleton)
6. Adele Lay (Carleton)
7. Daphne Haggarty (Lakehead)
8. Melissa Jones (Guelph)
9. Pauliina Kietavainen (Lakehead)
10. Ashely Huet (Guelph)
Men's 10km Freestyle (Top 10 out of 51) (time gap between 1st and 2nd)
1. Ben Wilkinson-Zan (Carleton) (-1.0 s)
2. Scott Hill (Lakehead)
3. Victor Hopper (Lakehead)
3. Ben Jones (Lakehead)
4. Nick Monette (Lakehead)
6. Leeland Hawkings (Carleton)
7. Harry Seaton (Lakehead)
8. Kyle Power (Carleton)
9. Leif Lennie (Lakehead)
10. Kieran Armstrong (Lakehead)
Women's Freestyle 3X3.75km Relay (margin of victory)
1. Lakehead A ( -15.5s)
2. Carleton A
3. Carleton B
4. Guelph A
5. Lakehead B
6. Laurentian A
7. Queen's A
8. Guelph B
9. U of Toronto A
10. Laurentian B
11. Queen's B
Men's Freestyle 3X3.75km Relay (margin of victory)
1. Lakehead B (-0.5s)
2. Lakehead A
3. Carleton A
4. Queen's A
5. Waterloo A
6. Laurentian A
7. Guelph A
8. Guelph B
9. Nipissing A
10. U of Toronto A
11. Laurentian B
12. Queen's B
