RESULTS:
Women: http://www.nensa.net/sched&result/2005/women_3_23.htm
Men: http://www.nensa.net/sched&result/2005/men_3_23.htm
David Chamberlain (Bethel, ME) arrived at Portland Jetport yesterday afternoon after spending the last six weeks competing at World Championships in Germany, then World Cup events in Scandinavia. Twenty-four hours later he was putting on a show at the one kilometer track laid out by the City of Portland…
and groomed by Coastal Nordic Ski Club at Deering Oaks Park in Portland. Chamberlain finished second in qualifying, but left nothing to chance in both of his heats and cruised to victory over number one qualifier and US Biathlon Team member Tim Burke in the final.
Ida Sargent (Burke, VT) is also a veteran of European competition having traveled with the US Team to the J1 Scandinavian Cup in February. In March, she led the New England junior team as it defended its title in the Junior Olympics in Truckee, California. At Junior Olympics, Sargent was the fastest J1 qualifier for the sprints so she was certainly a favorite in this event. In the semi-final round, Sargent was surprised by UNH’s Sarah Walker who took the victory. Sargent got her revenge in the final where she out-skied Walker and the other challengers, Margaret Maher of Rutland, VT and Katrina Howe of Gilford, NH and Gunstock Nordic.
When the Elite Heats were finished, competition continued for age group titles. Winners were:
Junior Women: Ingrid Knowles (Maine Coast Jr. Team)
Junior Men: Shane McDowell (Burke)
J2 Women: Hanna Lucy (Mt. Washington Nordic)
J2 Men: Graham Egan (Cape Nordic)
Senior Women: Kat Bennett (Maine Coast Jr. Team Coach)
Senior Men: John Reuter (Bates College)
Master Women: Mary Lou Lowrie (Maine Nordic Ski Club)
Master Men: Peter Hall (Coastal Nordic)
This was the first ski competition to be held at Deering Oaks Park and the first time that southern Maine has hosted such a high-caliber group of skiers. While some competitors were Olympic hopefuls, there were others who raced just to challenge their own limits. The 110 competitors varied widely in age and ability, but they all enjoyed the chance to race under the lights in Maine’s biggest city.
Thanks to the City of Portland, Peak Performance Sports, Coastal Nordic Ski Club, Portland Ski Club, and Cape Nordic Ski Club for putting on such a great event.
Source: NENSA
