The Clarkson University Nordic Ski team continued its domination on the east coast as both the Golden Knight Men and Women won the 2011 United States Collegiate Ski Association (USCSA) Eastern Regional, held this past weekend at the Ethan Allen Biathlon Center in Jericho, VT. 

The Golden Knights Men’s team won both the 8.5k classic and the 15k freestyle races to successfully defend their 2010 regional title. The Clarkson Women also took the top spot in both events and also won the 1.5k sprint, claiming their second consecutive regional. 

Winners of nine regional championships in the past 11 years, the Clarkson Nordic Ski team, which has gone undefeated this season, will make its 27th consecutive appearance in the USCSA Nationals when the Knights compete at Sun Valley, Idaho on March 8-12. 

For the second consecutive year junior Alex Benway (Queensbury, NY) was the men’s top overall skier in regional combined events. Sophomore Andrew Klem (Dalton, MA) was third and freshman Nick Marshall (Huntington, VT) place fourth. Junior Tim Sick (Chambersburg, PA) came in fifth.?Benway lead the way in both the 1.5k sprint and the 15k skate (42:11) with first-place showings. He also placed second in the 8.5k classic (25:45).  

Junior Alyssa Dausman (Syracuse, NY) was the second-place overall skier in the women’s regional events. Classmates Andrea Walsh (Underhill Center, VT) and Emily Garrant (Marcellus, NY) placed third and fourth, respectively. Sophomore Rachel Bachman (Queensbury, NY) finished fifth and senior Alicia Perras (Portsmouth, RI) tied for seventh. 

Dausman won the 15k skate (52:56) and finished second in the 1.5k sprint and was third in the 8.5k classic (32:13).