The final Eastern Cup weekend is the last chance for juniors skiers in New England to qualify for the region’s Junior National team. These races show case some of the best racing of the season and a stacked junior field, with over 250 skiers toeing the start line each day. The weekend got off to a quick start with freestyle sprints on some very fast snow. With so many juniors racing and making the Open rounds, nearly half the field had to opportunity to race in the heats and gain valuable experience!
On day two of racing, skiers made their way around the course in classic technique, with the Open racers doing doing 10km and the U16s completing 6km. Klister was the wax flavor of the day, with changing conditions as the course was skied in and the temperatures rose. Despite the day’s challenges, the racers thrived, showing how to make the skis and wax work in tricky snow!
It was an exciting final weekend in the Eastern Cup Club standings. With the top three athletes per team in each age group earning points, scores are combined from both days of racing. In the U18/U20 Men’s field GMVS (238pts) set the pace with a 22 point lead over Ford Sayre (216pts) in second, separated by 1 point over Prospect Mountain Ski Club (215pts) in third. It was closer in the U18/U20 Women’s races with EMXC (148pts) taking the top spot by 8 points over Mansfield Nordic (140pts), with the Colby College Nordic Ski Team (123pts) securing third position. In the U16 Boys races GMVS (114pts) was again the winner with a slim lead over Gould Academy (112pts). Mansfield Nordic Club took the third spot (100pts). The U16 Girls category saw Craftsbury Ski Club (108pts) rising to the top, with EMXC (97pts) and GMVS (96pts) in a tight battle for second and third.
Results & Eastern Cup Club Rankings
Sprint Races:
Open Women:
1) Evelyn Walton – EMXC
2) Sophia Scirica – EMXC
3) Sophia Kelting – NYSEF
Open Men:
1) Sam Gallaudet – EMXC
2) Isak Nightingale – Colby
3) Elvis McIntosh – GMVS
U16 Girls:
1) Amelia Circosta – Craftsbury
2) Annelies Hanna – Ford Sayre
3) Mary Harrington – GMVS
U16 Boys:
1) Lucas Barstow – Gould
2) Henri McCourt – Mt. Blue High School
3) James Crowley – Gould
U18 Girls:
1) Mirra Payson – EMXC
2) Virginia Cobb – Mansfield
3) Beth McIntosh – GMVS
U18 Boys:
1) Eli Shifrin – Gould
2) Luke Rizio – Prospect
3) Tyler Watt – Gunstock
U20 Women:
1) Clara Lake – EMXC
2) Emma Page – Mansfield
3) Morgan St. Martin – Orford (missing)
U20 Men:
1) Parke Chapin – GMVS
2) Joe Grazidei – GMVS
3) Lucas Palcsik – GMVS
Classic Races:
Open Women:
1) Emma Crum – Bowdoin
2) Evelyn Walton – EMXC
3) Virginia Cobb – Mansfield
Open Men:
1) William Riley – Gunstock
2) Aiden Jacobus – GMVS
3) Sam Gallaudet – EMXC
U16 Girls:
1) Claire Serrano – Craftsbury
2) Francis Tucker – EMXC
3) Ava Schneider – GMVS
U16 Boys:
1) David Northcott – Caldwell Sport
2) Henri McCourt – Mt. Blue High School
3) Charlie Kehler – Craftsbury
U18 Girls:
1) Beth McIntosh – GMVS
2) Julia Thurston – Mansfield
3) Addison Englund – Holderness
U18 Boys:
1) Chip Freeman – SMS (missing)
2) Benjamin Condit – Quarry Road
3) Tyler Watt – Gunstock
U20 Women:
1) Emma Page – Mansfield
2) Clara Lake – EMXC
3) Elizabeth Graziani – GMVS
U20 Men:
1) Parke Chapin – GMVS
2) Isak Nightingale – Colby (missing)
3) Geo Debrosse – Mansfield (missing)
While unseasonable warm weather last week ate up much of New England’s snow pack, the trails at the Dublin School Nordic Center were well prepared for such an event, having up to one meter of artificial snow on the ground. Kudos to the snowmaking and grooming staff for providing our community with great conditions on the sprint course and 2km race loop for the weekend! Thank you to the crew at DublinXC and the Dublin School for hosting a great weekend of racing!