February 22 – The Annual Silver Fox Trot cross-country ski race drew over 300 skiers to Garipay Field in Hanover on Saturday. The seventh of eight Banknorth Eastern Cup events, the five and 10km Freestyle races welcomed Bill Koch League kids, ages three to thirteen and masters, the Junior elite fighting for a berth on the Junior Olympic Team, and high school skiers competing for spot on the Eastern High School team.
The Men's race was won by Bret Bedard of Berkshire Trails (Cheshire, MA), in a time of 27:44, on the fast, rolling, 2-lap course. Rossignol's Nick Mahood kept him honest, finishing just eight seconds behind in second. The surprise was a tie between NYSEF teammates Per Kalnes and Scottie McClelland for third.
The Women's 5km freestyle event was more predictable. Liz Stephen (Burke Mountain Academy) won her second Eastern Cup with a time of 15:12. Craftsbury Nordic's Elsa Sargent was second. Both Stephen and Sargent have nailed down a spot on the New England Junior Olympic Team, and both just back from the USST's Junior Trip to Scandinavia. “I was more relaxed today,” said Stephen. “It was a great trip (to Scandinavia) – now I'm better prepared for skiing internationally.” Right behind them in third was Middlebury College's Jenny Jorvig (15:46).
The Banknorth Eastern Cup Series wraps up tomorrow with the Chivers 5km Classic at Vermont Academy, Saxton's River, VT. The New England Junior Olympic Team will be named that afternoon.
Banknorth Eastern Cup/ Silver Fox Trot, 2/21/04 Men's 10km Freestyle
1. Bret Bedard, Berkshire Trails Nordic, Cheshire, MA, 27:44 2. Nicholas Mahood, Rossignol, Durham, NH 27:52 3 (tie). Per Kaines, Lake Placid, NY 27:56 3. Scottie McClelland, New York Ski Ed. Found., Keene Valley, NH 27:564 5. Simon Thomas -Train, NYSEF, Keene Valley, NH 28:11 6. Hunter Karnedy, Burke Mountain Academy, East Calais, VT 28:12 7. Stephen Monsulick, Bates College, Kents Hill, ME 28:18 8. Silas Gill, Burke Mountain Academy, Jackson, NH 28:30 9. Chris Nice Ford Sayre, Hanover, NH 28:32 10. Tim Reynolds, Green Mountain Valley School, Bristol, VT 28:37
Women's 5km Freestyle
1. Liz Stephen, Burke Mountain Academy, E. Montpelier, VT 15:12 2. Elsa Sargent, Craftsbury Nordic, Orleans, VT 15:27 3. Jenny Jorvig, Middlebury College, Minnetonka. MN 15:48 4. Hannah Dreissigacker, Craftsbury Nordic, Morrisville, VT 16:18 5. Robyn Anderson, Kimbal Union Academy, Meriden, NH 16:25 6. McClelland Sophie, NYSEF, Keene Valley, NY 16:32 7. Christina Pderron, Williams College Williamstown, MA 16:39 8. Alexa Unser, Burke Mountain Academy , Bozeman, MT 16:48 9. Greta Olafsen, Gunstock Nordic Assoc., Center Sandwich, NH 16:49 10. Lizzie Torkelson , Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT 16:50