December 21, 2004- Home for the holidays, 2002 Olympian
Justin Freeman from Andover, NH took a quick trip up to Stowe, VT for the
Banknorth Eastern Cup 10km freestyle cross-country ski race on Sunday, Decemeber 20. He made short work of the two-loop course and won with a time of 27:05. Chris Mallory (UNH), who second in Saturday’s Eastern Cup classic sprint, took second again today, in 28:12.3. St. Lawrence University’s Angus McCusker was 3rd, 22 seconds back. 1998 Olympian, Marc Gilbertson (Craftsbury Nordic/Hyde Park,VT) snuck into the top 10, with an 8th place.

The race drew over 250 racers from across New England – to the snow of
northern Vermont, the trails of Trapp Family Lodge, and the first races of
the season.

Former Junior Olympians and medalists were also atop the scoreboard today.
2004 New England JO Team members Alex Howe (Gunstock Nordic/Guilford, NH),
Kyle Dewey (Stratton Mountain School/Weston,VT) and Fritz Horst (Stratton
Mountain School/Bennington, VT) went 1-2-3 in the Junior2 boys’ 5km
freestyle race.

Junior Olympians also led the Senior/Master Women’s 5km race. Laura Spector
(GMVS/Lenox, MA) tore up the field – her home course – and finished just 4
seconds ahead of Liz Stephen (Burke Mountain Academy/E.Montpelier, VT), who
finished 3/10ths of a second ahead of yesterday’s classic sprint champion,
Ida Sargent (Craftsbury Nordic/Orleans, VT).

And, but for four seconds, it was almost a Stratton Mountain School sweep
in the Junior2 girls 5km race. Sophie Caldwell and Parker Tyler placed 1-2,
and Karmen Whitham (Prospect Ski Club/Readsboro, VT) squeaked in ahead of
SMS’s Madeleine Talkington for 3rd.

The Banknorth Eastern Cup Series continues in Presque Isle, Maine with the
TAMC Nordic Heritage Freestyle Sprints and 15/10km Classic, December 29th
and 30th.

Banknorth Eastern Cup, 12/19/04

Overall Men

1. Justin Freeman, US Ski Team, Andover, NH 27:05.0

2. Chris Mallory, University of New Hampshire, Colchester, VT 28:12.3

3. Angus McCusker, St. Lawrence Univ., Canton, NY 28:34.8

4. Nick Trautz, Craftsbury Nordic, Cabot, VT 28:54.6

5. Eben Sargent, Craftsbury Nordic, Orleans, VT 29:10.3

6. Silas Gill, Burke Mountain Academy, E.Burke, VT 29:13.5

7. Russel Currier, Maine Nordic Ski Center, Sweden, ME 29:15.2

8. Marc Gilbertson, Craftsbury Nordic, Hyde Park, VT 29:20.1

9. Nick Mahood, Woodstock Nordic, Woodstock, VT 29:26.5

10. Jimmy Ades, Middlebury College, Shelburne, VT 29:28.1

5km Freestyle

Overall Women

1.Laura Spector, Green Mountain Valley School, Lenox, MA 15:11.7

2. Liz Stephen, Burke Mountain Academy, E.Montpelier, VT 15:15.4

3. Ida Sargent, Craftbury Nordic, Orleans, VT 15:15.7

4. Robyn Anderson, Green Mountain Valley School, Stowe, VT 15:42.1

5. Alessandra Demarchis, GMVS, Burlington, VT 15:43.8

6. Hannah Dreissigacker Craftsbury Nordic, Morrisville, VT 15:58.1

7. Dorcas Wonsavage, Ford Sayre, Etna,NH 16:00.8

8. Susan Dunklee, Dartmouth Outing Club, Barton, VT 16:02.2

9. Evelyn Dong, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT 16:07.5

10. Margaret Maher, U of NH, Chittenden, VT 16:24.1

5km Freestyle

Junior2 Boys (age 14-15)

1. Alex Howe, Gunstock Nordic, Gilford, NH 14:05.0

2. Kyle Dewey, Stratton Mountain School, Weston, VT 14:21.8

3. Fritz Horst, Stratton Mountain School, Bennington, VT 14:32.4

4. Steven Bedard, SMS, Cheshire, MA 14:35.9

5. Dimitri Luthi, Maine winter Sports Center, Caribou, ME 14:46.0

6. Keith Kantack, Mt. Washington Nordic, Jackson, NH 15:07.2

7. Thomas Stark, Gunstock Nordic, Fitzwilliam, NH 15:10.1

8. Owen Miller, Mountain Top, Killington, VT 15:11.7

9. Max Robillard, GMVS, Waitsfield, VT 15:27.8

10. Chase Marston, CVU Nordic, Charlotte, VT 15:57.7

5km Freestyle

Junior2 Girls (age 14-15)

1. Sophie Caldwell, Stratton Mountain School, Stratton, VT 15:57.2

2. Parker Tyler, Stratton Mountain School, Stratton, VT 16:45.0

3. Karmen Whitham, Prospect Mountain, Readsboro, VT 16:56.3

4. Madeleine Talkington, Stratton Mountain School, Weston, VT 17:00.0

5. Elise Moody-Roberts, Cape Nordic, Cape Elizabeth, ME 17:17.9

6. Megan Killigrew, SMS, Putneyh, VT 17:26.8

7. Stephanie Crocker, St. Paul’s School, Poughkeepsie, NH 17:45.2

8. Justrine Cyr, MWSC, Fort Kent, ME 18:02.3

9. Hilary McNamee, MWSC, Fort Kent, ME 18:06.4

10. Keely Levins, Mountain Top, Rutland, VT 18:24.8