'Cliffe Skiers Finish Third...

Despite the depletion of its already thin cross-country corps because of injuries, the Radcliffe ski team turned in an impressive third-place finish in last weekend's Bates Women's Invitational at Auburn, Maine.

The alpiners won their portion of the meet with Vera Fajtova leading the way by topping the field in the giant slalom and then copping second in the slalom.

Lenny Wilson turned in an eight-place finish in the slalom, with Carlyle Singer close behind in 11th place.

Following the alpine events, the Crimson women were at the top of the field by two points. After the cross-country race, though, Radcliffe trailed Maine-Farmington by five and Bates by twelve.

Ouch

Judy Rabinowitz captured third place in the cross-country, but the Cliffe's other habitual top-five finisher, Elinor Apthorp, missed the race because of tendonitis.

Alpiners Karen Linsley (who placed in the top ten in the giant slalom) and Lenny Wilson each turned in strong efforts to pick up much-needed points. The contributions of these two were particularly important, as the 'Cliffe needed three of its runners to finish in order to qualify for NCAA Division II status.

Captain Singer underlined the importance of the Radcliffe team's showing, noting that NCAA officials were watching the meet before picking the remaining teams that will go to the Colby-Sawyer carnival in Maine next month.

"If we had had Elinor, we would have won last weekend and they would have had to give the spot to us, but it's between Bates, Maine and us for the final spot," she said.

Another strike against the women in their quest for a berth at the Colby-Sawyer carnival is their failure to show for another carnival this season when reading period duties called.

Regardless of the committee's decision, Radcliffe has a shot at qualifying for Division I status next year if it can finish in the top two in next week's meet at Franklin Pierce. Both coach Steve Graham and Singer are optimistic.