Racers kick off the start of the Jingle Bell 5K Snowshoe Race on Saturday. (Provided photo)

PAUL SMITHS — Paul Smith’s College students Eliot Soderholm and Chloe Freund started the snowshoe racing season at the top of their game.

Soderholm raced the Jingle Bell 5K snowshoe race course at the Paul Smith’s College VIC in a blistering time of 18 minutes, 17 seconds, with about 40% of the course ungroomed single track, making for less than ideal footing.

Matt Mederios of Saranac placed second in the men’s race in a time of 24:12, followed by Bryce Shannon (24:59) and Matt Matis (25:30) of Paul Smith’s College. Matt Westerlund of Lacona rounded out the top five in 26:58.

Freund began her second season on snowshoes with a win in the women’s 5K with a time of 37:20, followed closely by teammate, Morgan Cheney, in 37:26. Cheney is new to snowshoe racing, as a standout Timbersports competitor who transferred into Paul Smith’s from Finger Lakes Community College in the fall. Cheney was the top finisher for Paul Smith’s at USCAA Nationals in cross country running, after a lengthy recovery from a nagging injury through much of the fall season.

Derek Gillard of Cornwall, Ontario and Marissa Rousseau of Finch, Ontario, enjoyed their first trek to the Paul Smith’s College VIC during the winter snowshoe season. Gillard placing sixth in 30:05 and Rousseau placing third in 41:33 for the women.

The early-season Jingle Bell 5K featured 19 athletes, which is similar to past seasons. Those who made the trek to the VIC from away from the college were quite impressed by the snow-covered trails and enjoyed running through the woodlands.

The Paul Smith’s students will be departing the college later this week as they finish up their fall semester, and then gather up as they depart for the U.S. Snowshoe Nationals and World Championships in Brillion, Wisconsin, next week.