Gordon Taylor, skiing for the Farmington Area Ski Team, captured the gold medal
in the Maine Junior Ski League Giant Slalom Championships under the lights at Black Mountain of Maine on February 16th. Taylor had a two-run time of 1:09.56 to top a field of 66 finishers. Finishing in second place was Riley Jerome of Telstar Middle School with a combined time of 1:11.38. Rangeley's Breezy Quimby took the bronze medal with a combined time of 1:13.12. Charlie Koenig of the Sugarloaf Area Ski Team came in fourth at 1:13.26. Ava Beaudin, an Independent came in fifth (1:14.16) with Nya Wolfe of SAST (1:14.80) taking sixth.
In the Boys GS, Charlie Pye of Rangeley took top honors with a combined score of 1:15.05, Grabbing the silver was Bryce Marcoux of Chisholm Alpine Race Team, finishing with 1:15.12. Taking the final podium position was Jett Lindel of Camden Snow Bowl in 1:15.54. Rounding out the top six were Emmet Marshall of CSB (1:16.57), Asa Stroman of FAST (1:18.05). and Landon Marquis of CSB (1:18.30).
The MJSL Championships continue on Wednesday, February 27th at Lost Valley in Auburn. The Alpine Slalom Championships are scheduled to begin at 10:00 am.
Enfield, New Hampshire native Dennis Page won the 7th annual John Roderick 50k Marathon Race at Black Mountain of Maine on February 9th. 
The Darthmouth College graduate skied the freestyle course in 2:04:28.0 on a blustery but sunny day in Rumford to capture the gold. Finishing 2nd was Justin Fereshetian with a time of 2:06:00.3. Grabbing the final podium spot was Orono’s Gregory Harkay.
In the women’s 25k freestyle, Carrie Nourjian of Stowe, Vermont took top honors with a 1:19:17.6 time. Jackson, New Hampshire’s Laurel took second.
In the Men’s 25K freestyle, Kyle Rancourt’s time of 1:07:34.1 won him the top spot on the podium for that event. He was followed by Mike Morse (1:10:28.6) and Brett Rutledge (1:10:30.0).
Mark Lena won the Men’s 25k Classical Style in 1:50:26.4.
Julia Lazzaroni of Park City, Utah captured the championship in the women’s 15k freestyle, finishing in 40:15.7. Right behind her were Rachel Zafren of Brunswick, Maine (40:31.5) and Sarah Pribram of Shelburne, Vermont (40:44.3).
In the men’s 15K freestyle, it was Noah Gans taking the gold with a time of 32:58.2. William Watson and Ben Gustafson took the silver and bronze.
Kevin Donohoe won the men’s 10k freestyle with David Holmander coming in second.
Also a part of the day’s festivities was the University of Maine’s men’s 15k freestyle, won by Jordan Fried in 36:19.4. Thomas Wing took second and Isaiah Reid was third.
Eli Shifrin, skiing for Gould, scorced the 3k course on the historic
John Roderick ski trails in 9:21.4 to comfortably win the 2019 Jr Sassi Championship on January 26th. There was a dead heat for second place between Auburn's Ellis Slover and Portland's Daniel Niles, who each finished in 10:01.7 to share the second podium spot. Other top 6 finishers in the field of 67 were Benjamin Condit of Auburn, who with a time of 10:10.0, just missed medaling, and Zachary Ross and Beckett Cote, who both skied for Central Maine.
In the girls' race, Briget Reusch of Farmington Area Ski Team took the gold with a time of 10:40.6. The silver went Reusch's teammate Kamryn Joyce with a time of 10:52.1. Naomi MacGadney of Central Maine finished in 11:38.6 to earn the bronze. Moriah Reusch of FAST, Elise Creagan of York, and Annabelle Brooks of Portland rounded out the top six. Like the boys, 67 girls competed in the race.
View race photos at 
Roy Varney of Leavitt captured gold in the 2019
Sassi Memorial 5k Classical at Black Mountain of Maine on the afternoon of January 26th. The Hornet Skier won the largest high school ski race in the state with a time of 13:36.2. Despite the heavy rains two days prior to race day, the tracks were in excellent condition that held up well despite the large field of skiers in the Sassi and it's younger version, the Jr. Sassi, which was held in the morning. Taking the silver was Maranacook High School's Carter McPhedran, who crossed the finish line in 13:49.8. Carter's teammate Gabe Fine grabbed the final podium spot with a time of 13:54.8. Other strong finishers were Ethan Livingood of Falmouth, Sam Smith of Mt. Blue, and Dom Giampietro of Mt. Blue.
In the women's race, Freshman Emma Charles of Mt. Blue topped a field of 140 skiers with a winning time of 15:27.0. Right behind Charles was Emily Gerencer of St. Doms, who finished with a time of 15:30.3. Lily Horne of Freeport grabbed the bronze with a time of 16:28.5. Other notable finishers were Gould Academy's Lilo Bean, Portland Nordic's Grace Tumavicus, and Jaidyn Negley of the Leavitt Hornets.
Race Photos available at
The 2019 KVAC Nordic Championships 
kicked off on February 6th at Black Mountain of Maine with the 5K mass start classical competition. Roy Varney of Leavitt won the KVAC Classical with a winning time of 13:57.5. Gabe Fein of Maranacook was second in 14:05.1 and Carter McPhedran also of Maranacook was third with a time of 14:06.1. Also finishing in the top six were Sam Smith of Mt. Blue (14:24.0), his teammate Dom Giampietro, who finished in 14:55.1, and Maranacook's Bryce Trefethen (15:08.4).
Freshman Emma Charles of Mt. Blue won the KVAC Girls Classical Championship with an impressive time of 15:25.1. Jayden Negley of Leavitt was second, completing the course in 16:44.5 and Chelsea Seabold of Mt. Blue was third with a time of 17:03.7. Day 2 of the KVAC Nordic Championships is Saturday with the freestyle pursuit at Titcomb Mtn. Rounding out the top six were Maura Taylor of Maranacook (17:24.2), Brynne Robbins of Mt. Blue (18:10.8), and Mt. Ararat's Sadie Skinner (18:57.8).
Day 1 of the KVAC Alpine Championships took place
on Wednesday, February 6th at Black Mtn with the Giant Slalom competition. Colby Van Decker, an Oxford Hills junior, won the KVAC GS with a combined time of 1:41.96. Eli Yeaton of Mt. Blue was second with a combined time of 1:42.85 and Sam Smith, also of Mt. Blue was third, finishing with a combined time of 1:42.95. Rounding out the top six were Jake Mills of Oxford Hills (1:43.76), Maranacook's Robbie McKee (1:44.25), and Mills' Viking teammate and skiemeister competitor Tommy Bancroft (1:46.59).
On the girls side, Senior Ellie Pelletier of Mt. Blue won the KVAC Giant Slalom with a winning combined time of 1:50.23. Miranda Chadbourne of Edward Little was second with a combined time of 1:51.14. Anna Erb of Maranacook was third with a combined time of 1:52.27. Also having strong races were Mt. Blue's Jenna Hanrahan (1:52.58), Jorday Cummings of Edward Little (1:52.68), and Katie Ide of Maranacook (1:53.12).
The KVAC Alpine Championships conclude on Saturday with the slalom competition at Titcomb Mountain in Farmington.
Cameron Walters of Mt. Abram skied the 5k Classical
at Black Mountain of Maine in 15:55.5 to win the Mountain Valley Conference title on the first day of the MVC Championship. On a beautiful February 6th day in what resembled a warm up loop for the Roadrunners, Walters and his teammates captured the top 6 positions to dominate the rest of the MVC pack. 2nd place went to fellow Roadrunner Levi Bouchard, who completed the course in 15:58.8. Taking the final podium position was Dillon Wells with a time of 15:59.3. David Kidd (16:12.6), Brandon Hemingway (16:28.0), and Chandler Rollins (17:01.1) rounded out the top six.
Emily Kidd of Mt. Abram broke away from the pack in the Women's MVC 5k Classical Mass Start to win the MVC Championship on the John Roderick Trail System. The Roadrunner freshman completed the course in 20:04.0 to earn the top podium spot. Her teammate, senior Alice Cockerham took the silver medal, finishing in 20:19.0, while Leah Ruck of Orono came in third with a time of 20:53.6. Rounding out the top six were three Winthrop skiers, Sam Allen (21:20.9), Alexis Emery (22:56.1), and Maya Deming (22:57.8).
