Vermontville-native Bill Demong took home silver yesterday in the men's Nordic combined team event.
The four-man team of Brett Camerota, Todd Lodwick, Johnny Spillane and Demong (pictured here from left to right, photo credit goes to Charlie Krupa of the Associated Press) finished just five seconds behind Austria in a time of 49 minutes and 36.8 seconds.
The U.S. team started in second position following the jumping portion of the competition. Demong anchored the team, hitting the course about 14 seconds behind Austria's Mario Stecher. The two battled it out right to the finish, but Stecher got the edge coming into the stadium.
Adirondack Daily Enterprise senior sports writer Lou Reuter spoke with North Country Public Radio's Brian Mann following the race:
"Billy actually had a little bit of a lead on the last downhill, but he was unable to maintain that lead, there might have been another 500 meters to go," he said. "Bill was down 14 seconds when he started his leg and he ended up knocking nine seconds off; he was pleased, and everyone was pleased with a silver medal."
Brian also chatted with Billy's mother, Helen Demong, a music teacher at the Saranac Lake High School -- where Billy graduated.
"That was the most incredible race," she said. "The whole day has been spectacular. Watching our guys jump so well, and that relay couldn't have been better. Just incredible."
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