Knowles Finishes 13th in 20K Free at NCAA Championships

by: 

Nancie Battaglia

Senior Ben Knowles finished in 13th place in the 20K Free at NCAA's on Saturday.

Mar. 13: St. Lawrence University senior Ben Knowles narrowly missed out on All-America honors on Saturday, as the Cumberland, ME native finished in 13^th place in the 20K Freestyle event at the 2010 NCAA Championships in Steamboat Springs, CO.

Knowles, who was also the team's top finisher in the 10K Classic on Thursday, raced the course in a time of 49:49.5, finishing only three spots out of the top-10 and All-America honors. 

Meanwhile, classmates Eric Wolcott and Zach Wetherell both improved on their debut finishes from Thursday as well.  Wolcott raced in 50:44.0 to finish in 28^th position, while Wetherell was 36^th overall in 53:02.8. 

"I'm very proud of the way the guys competed not only this weekend, but all season," said St. Lawrence head coach Ethan Townsend, the 2010 EISA Coach of the Year.  "We've had a record-setting year thanks to this trio and I'm thankful for their constant efforts."

The University of Vermont's Franz Bernstein captured the national championship in the men's 20K Free with a time of 49:19.7, a mere 1.2 seconds ahead of New Mexico's Martin Kaas.

Saturday's race marks the end of the 2010 ski season.  St. Lawrence first-year student Ashley-Kate Durham competed for the Scarlet and Brown in the alpine races at the NCAA Championships this weekend as well.