While Dartmouth's varsity sports were beginning to wrap up their seasons, the Dartmouth Outing Club bike team took to the road in search of success. The team headed out to Williston, Vt. two weekends ago to compete in the New England Grass Roots Mountain Bike Race.
And success was exactly what these athletes found, as three of the six members won their respective races at Catamount Recreation Center.
The team headed out early for the race, arriving in Williston with plenty of time to take a leisurely loop around the course, demo a few of the new '96 bikes, and fine tune some of their own equipment.
Bikers could not have asked for a better day. The team members arrived to find a few broken clouds and temperatures climbing into the 60s.
Jessica Anenberg '96 began the day well for the Big Green, taking second place in the five kilometer Citizen Class race. The race, which was the first of the day, featured riders aged 13-45.
Next up was the 10 kilometer Beginner Class race. Andrew Tolonen '98 and Seth Newsome '99 raced for Dartmouth in this race.
Newsome took an early lead and sustained to finish a 32:10 win. Tolonen picked up third place in the 19-24 category.
Sophomore Wes MacLaggan and freshman Kate Maher-Melson dominated the 12 kilometer Sport Division as they took the gold in their respective age groups, with times of 44:52 and 47:05.
Senior Jason Dunklee took second in the longest event of the day, the five lap Sport Division, finishing in a little over 50 minutes. Interestingly enough, a Dartmouth '72 grabbed the victory just a few seconds in front of Dunklee.
The course was composed of a series of climbs and descents, leading riders through a multitude of terrain. The standing start led to a small climb on a grassy trail which eventually wound around and descended into the woods.
Among the trees, riders tackled a series of switchbacks which ascended them to the top of a small knoll marking the highest point on the course.
From here, participants had to navigate through a slow section of mud and water, ultimately leading them to another section of grassy trails and back to the start/finish line.
