CHAMBERLAIN, JOHNSON NAMED BATES ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
 

LEWISTON, Maine -- Seniors David Chamberlain, a nordic skier from Wilton and Denby Johnson, a swimmer from Chaska, Minn., have been named Bates College Athletes of the Week for the week ending Jan. 25.

Chamberlain, a two-time All-American at last year's NCAA Championships, skied in his first collegiate carnival of the season, hosted by Colby College at Sugarloaf Mountain in Carrabasset Valley. After missing Bates' first carnival a week earlier because of illness, Chamberlain came back with a second-place finish in the 10K freestyle race with a time of 27:44.6. He also skied the opening leg of a 4 x 5K mixed relay, which the Bobcats finished third, in 59:50.2. Overall, Bates finished in fifth place at the carnival, with the men's nordic team placing third. At the U.S. Olympic trials earlier in January, Chamberlain was among the top 25 finishers in three races.

Johnson was instrumental in Bates' 149-94 win over cross-state rival Colby College Jan. 25. She won three races for the Bobcats, highlighted by a record setting performance in the 1,000-yard freestyle. Her time of 10:45.32 knocked 11 seconds off Bates' previous record. Though the 1,000 is not contested at the NCAA Championships in March, Johnson's time was on a pace to qualify for the 1,650-yard, which is held. Johnson also showed her versatility by winning the 50- and 100-yard freestyle, missing the NCAA 'B' qualifying by less than a second. Bates moved to 3-2 on the season. The Bobcats have won seven of the last eight meets with Colby.

Chamberlain is a 1994 graduate of Mt. Blue High School. Johnson is a 1993 graduate of Chaska High School.