The cross-country skiers of northern Maine were treated to a full weekend of racing fun with the C-Me Ski in Limestone on Saturday, Feb. 11 and the Karen Sprague Memorial in Stockholm the following day.
Saturday’s classic race in Limestone was held at the Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge, while the Karen Sprague Memorial was held at the Snowy Mountain Trails behind Stockholm School.
With skiers from three University of Maine campuses —Orono, Farmington and Presque Isle — in attendance, both races had great turnouts.
The C-Me Ski took place on a 7km course and participants had the option of doing one lap or three.
With his win in the men’s 21km, Joey Bard of UMPI earned three points for his home club Northern Skiers in Caribou. Seth Hubbard (10th Mountain) was second, and Finn Bondeson (also Northern Skiers) was third.
Nordic Heritage Sport Club skier Lauren Jacobs won the women’s 21km race. Katrina Howe and Patricia Hebert, both of 10th Mountain, were second and third, respectively.
The annual Valentine’s-themed Karen Sprague Memorial featured two different racing options, a sweetheart relay and a duathlon. Costumes were prevalent and smiles were plenty in the sweetheart relays, where participants were encouraged to tag their partner with a kiss. Racers were divided into age groups and each member of the two-person relay team skied two laps.
Tom and Jim O’Meara won the kids race, while the team of Gentle Prescott and Kamran Hussain won the youth event. Danni Anderson and Erik Rupert took the win in the junior race. Justine Cyr and Fred Bailey won the adult race.
After the conclusion of the relays, 54 racers braved the cold again to compete in the 5km duathlon. Racers skied one lap with classic equipment then came back to the stadium to switch into skate gear before skiing another lap. Duathlons provide another aspect of excitement for competitors and spectators because the clock is running the entire time.
Bard took his second win of the weekend by edging out fellow UMPI skier Justin Fereshetian (Nordic Heritage). Austin Ross, also skiing for Nordic Heritage, was third in the men’s race.
Jacobs was the women’s winner again, followed by Justine Cyr (10th Mountain) and Sarah Dominick (Snowy Mountain).
Nordic Heritage Sport Club of Presque Isle has taken the lead in the Aroostook Cup club standings. They currently hold a 13-point lead over 10th Mountain Ski Club of Fort Kent. Northern Skiers of Caribou is in third. Results, updated points lists, and more can be found at www.goaroostookoutdoors.com.
The next Aroostook Cup races will be the February Frolic double-header in Caribou this Sunday.
