It was a tough day of waxing on the John Roderick Trail System at Black Mountain of Maine as high school and U16 skiers vied foe a chance to represent Maine at the Eastern High School Championships and U16 Championships later this month. Skiing on an abundance of new snow, the morning featured a 5k Classical race, followed by a 2.5k Freestyle Pursuit.

In the men’s competition, Benjamin Condit of Edward Little High School was the top finisher in the High School division, completing the 5k in 15:48 and the 2.5k pursuit in 7:36.3 for a total time of 23:24.3. In second place was Eli Shifrin of Gould Academy (23:43.3) with third place taken by Isaac Seeker of Falmouth HS with a combined time of 23:51.2.

Mt. Blue High School’s Henri McCourt was to top competitor in the combined HS and U16 division, having the fastest time in that division in the 5k, finishing the course in 16:06 and also the 2.5k, completing that race in 7:37.5. McCourt’s teammate Grayson Hoeft was second with a 17:01 in the 5k and 8:05.5 in the pursuit. Becket Cote of Messalonskee was third with times of 17:30 and 8:03.3.

In the boys U16, Alden Reardon of Fort Kent was tops with times of 16:49 and 8:11.17. Jacob Dening of Leavitt was second with times of 18:198:36.0. In third was Fryeburg’s Owen Reinbach with times of 18:30 and 9:35.6.

In the women’s high school competition, Ruth White of Orono had the fastest time in the 5k and held on to with the pursuit for a total time of 26:48.5. Kayley Bell of Caribou HS closed the gap on White with a 8:45.0 Freestyle to finish with a 27:12.0. Third place went to Annabelle Brooks of Cheverus (27:30.0).

In both EHSC and U16, Nora McCourt of Mt. Blue was tops with a combined score of 27:49.2. Second place went to Reed Proscia of Freeport (31:05.5) with Leavitt’s Jade Haylock in third (31:54.6)

It the strickly U16 division, Rowan Tanguay of Fort Kent came in first with a total time of 30:23.8, followed by Lucy Fullerton on Traip Academy at 30:54.9. Third place went to Madelyn Herman of York with a combined time of 32:00.2.

The U16 championship will take place at the Fort Kent Outdoor Center in Fort Kent, Maine on March 17-19. The High School EHS Championships will take place at the Rikert Nordic Center in Ripton, Vermont on March 10-12. These races will feature teams from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts and New York.

For Complete Results, CLICK HERE

Race Photos at