Kylie Van Tassel, skiing for Winthrop, won the girls 2026 Junior Sassi 3k Classical at Black Mountain of Maine on January 31. With temperatures below zero in the early morning hours, the decision was made to move the race times back to give Mother Nature some time to warm 
up the air. Van Tassel finished with a time of 12:39.6 to capture the gold. Hazel Badgett, skiing for Gould Academy, took second with a time of 12:42.0. Taking the final podium position was Louisa Chalmers of Yarmouth, who crossed the finish line at the 12:51.6 mark.
Scotia Bell, skiing for Quarry Road out of Waterville, came in fourth with a time of 13:03.4. Fifth place went to Neve McGuire of Farmington Area Ski Team with a finish of 13:13.8. In sixth place was Gwen Stack, skiing for Maine West, with a time of 13:47.1.
In the boys race, Elliot Plog, who was representing Day Mountain, took the top spot with a time of 10:19.7. 
Striding across the line in second place was Paxton Coughlin with a time of 10:44.9. Finishing in third place was Quarry Road's Turner Albee with a time of 11:07.8.
Fourth place went to Eli Leblond of Quarry Road with a 11:23.9 finish time. Abe Crooker of Maine West took fifth with a time of 11:26.3. Coming in sixth place was Noel Waterman of Gray-New Gloucester, who finished in 11:37.2.
For complete results, click here.
