Jackson, NH – The Eagle Mountain House and the Jackson Ski Touring Foundation hosted the TD Banknorth Eastern J2 Championships and National Invitational this past weekend. The Invitational brought together the top 14 and 15 year old Nordic skiers from New England and also included teams from Idaho, New York State and Canada. Skiers participated in qualifying races leading up to the Invitational with the top twenty boys and top twenty girls from each state coming together to compete both individually and as representatives of their state.
Fluctuating temperatures, klister conditions, and an afternoon rain shower challenged coaches and athletes alike. Over the course of three days, skiers competed in a series of four races: 5 kilometer skate, 5 kilometer classic, 1 kilometer classic sprint, and 4 x 2 kilometer mixed-gender, mixed-style relay. Andrew Nesbitt of Williamstown, MA was the top overall finisher of the event placing first in the 5K skate and third in both the sprint and 5K classic events. Cambria McDermott of Brattleboro, Vermont dominated the girls’ field by placing second in both the 5K skate and classic sprint and winning the 5K classic race.
The overall team championship came down to the final relay with Maine edging Vermont 14,432 points to 14,113. Despite the fact that Vermont’s top relay teams placed second and third, Maine’s outstanding depth proved the deciding factor. New Hampshire’s team of Gus Griffin, Jenna Maddock, Austin Hart and Emily Nice won the relay event by thirteen seconds.
Many of these racers will join the top high school athletes from New England and New York at the TD Banknorth Eastern High School Championships at Trapps Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont next weekend.
Photos courtesy of Jaime Doucett.
