After three years we were thrilled to bring back the full three-day Eastern High School Championship event! We couldn’t have asked for a better weekend at the Rikert Outdoor Center with excellent snow conditions, clear skies, and a committed group of staff and volunteers.
Eastern High School Championships (EHSC) is the premier event for high school and prep school racers in New England and New York. Athletes qualify for the EHSC through state qualifying races in which up to 24 boys and 24 girls are selected from each state. Championship racing action kicked off at Rikert on Friday afternoon with an individual start 5k freestyle race. The boys raced first followed by the girls. The full 5k course was in mint condition thanks to the recent snowfall and exceptional grooming by the Rikert Outdoor Center staff.
5k Freestyle Boys:
1: Baxter Harrington, VT
2: Benjamin Condit, ME
3: Quinn McDermott, MA
4: Nico Hochanadel, VT
5: Sage Grossi, VT
6: Brady Morigeau, VT
7: Leo Circosta, VT
8: Taylor Carlson, VT
9: James Underwood, VT
10: Eli Shifrin, ME
5k Freestyle Girls:
1: Lea Perread, NH
2: Greta Kilburn, VT
3: Elli Englund, NH
4: Hannah Petersen, MA
5: Ava Rothe, NH
6: Anika Leahy, VT
7: Margaret Voisin, VT
8: Cora Hinsdill, NY
9: Carli Krebs, NH
10: Hannah Bennet, NH
Saturday morning kicked off with a three lap 7.5k mass start classic race. After a three year hiatus due to COVID followed by low snow, it was thrilling to experience the total stillness in the stadium followed an airhorn and 110 athletes charging off the line.
7.5k Classic Mass Start Boys:
1: Quinn McDermott, MA
2: Oliver Wilson, NH
3: Eli Shifrin, ME
4: James Underwood, VT
5: Matthew Clarner, NH
6: Abrahm Giessinger, ME
7: Benjamin Condit, ME
8: Leo Circosta, VT
9: Jared Rife, MA
10: Nathan Doughty, MA
7.5k Classic Mass Start Girls:
1: Ruth White, ME
2: Lea Perread, NH
3: Elli Englund, NH
4: Cora Hinsdill, NY
5: Adah Chapman, NH
6: Greta Killburn, VT
7: Kayley Bell, ME
8: Annabelle Brooks, ME
9: Clara White, ME
10: Hannah Bennett, NH
After a lunch break, the sun started to peak out from behind the clouds and freestyle wave start sprinting action got underway. The course was fun and technical featuring a hefty climb and a barrel turn. The race format featured waves of five athletes with one athlete from each state (MA, ME, NH, NY & VT). After the sprint race, we honored the top 3 overall individual athletes whose ranking was determined using points from the first three individual races.
Skate Sprint Boys:
1: Sage Grossi, VT
2: Eli Shifrin, ME
3: Benjamin Condit, ME
4: Quinn McDermott, MA
5: James Underwood, VT
6: Joseph Graziadei, VT
7: Sawyer Weale, NH
8: Nico Hochanadel, VT
9: Brady Morigeau, VT
10: Oliver Wilson, NH
Skate Sprint Girls:
1: Greta Kilburn, VT
2: Lea Perread, NH
3: Ava Rothe, NH
4: Margaret Voisin, VT
5: Summer Bentley, NH
6: Adah Chapman, NH
7: Elli Englund, NH
8: Anika Leahy, VT
9: Cora Hinsdill, NY
10: Alexandria Taylor, MA
Individual Overall Boys:
1: Quinn McDermott, MA
2: Benjamin Condit, ME
3: Eli Shifrin, ME
Individual Overall Girls:
1: Lea Perread, NH
2: Greta Kilburn, VT
3: Elli Englund, NH
Fueled by an exceptionally tasty banquet held at the Breadloaf Inn Saturday evening, athletes toed the line Sunday morning for the final race of the championship event–the 4 x 2.5k mixed relay. The race was tight and exciting right down to the finishing stretch. Following the relay, team scores were tallied with Team Vermont winning the Graham Taylor Cup with the highest team score!
Mixed Relay:
1: NH (Oliver Wilson, Lea Perread, Matthew Clarner & Elli Englund)
2: VT (James Underwood, Greta Kilburn, Baxter Harrington & Anika Leahy)
3: NH (Will Putnam, Adah Chapman, Sawyer Weal & Ava Rothe)
4: VT (Peter McKenna, Ava Whitney, Sage Grossi & Ruth Krebs)
5: VT (Leo Circosta, Margaret Voisin, Nico Hochanadel & CarolineTarmy
Before we wrap up, we want to take a moment to thank the Rikert Outdoor Center and Frost Mountain Nordic for everything they put into hosting a fantastic event. Three of the state teams and all the race officials stayed at the Breadloaf Inn right at Rikert which was a new and special opportunity made possible by Middlebury College. We also want to thank our NENSA sponsors for their ongoing support of our Championship events, Eastern Amateur Educational Foundation (EASEF) for supporting athletes all across the East in attending EHSC. Also our race officials and Bullitt Timing for timing and data management. And last but not least, thank you to all the athletes and coaches for bringing your energy, enthusiasm, and love of skiing to this event!