LAKE PLACID, N.Y. -- The Castleton men's Nordic skiing team competed at the Eastern Collegiate Ski Conference Regionals at Mt. Van Hoevenberg this weekend, finishing fourth in both Saturday's 1.3K Sprint and the 7.5K Classic on Sunday.

SATURDAY
Antonio Mannino was the Spartans' top finisher in the opening 1.3K Freestyle Sprint Qualifier, posting a 2:44.2 race to come in 17th of 53 racers. Kristupas Merkelis (3:24.9) and Shawn Allen (3:30.7) also competed, finishing 47th and 49th, respectively. Mannino advanced to the 36-man bracket of six quarterfinal races, placing fifth in the second heat with a time of 2:43.9.

Paul Smith's saw three racers qualify for the A Final with Aidan Ripp and Nate Livengood taking first and second as Gus Whitcomb placed sixth. Logan Jensen won the B Final as the Bearcats took first place in team competition with eight points, followed by Clarkson (14), Cornell (32), and Castleton (52).

SUNDAY
Mannino cracked the top-15 in the day-two 7.5K Classic with a 22:17 race, finishing 13th. Allen took 45th with a time of 28:36 while Merkelis (31:23) rounded out the Castleton trio in 49th.

Ripp was the only racer under the 20-minute mark, completing the course in 19:35 for a weekend sweep. Livengood took runner-up honors for a second time as Clarkson's Conner Roberts and Joey Rouhana filled out the top-four finishers. High finishes placed Paul Smith's as the top squad once again, making the Bearcats weekend victors.

The Spartans' season wraps up next month at USCSA Nationals, running March 6-11 at Mammoth Mountain in Mammoth Lakes, Calif.