Sports in brief . . .

Skating Club registration Thursday at PI rec center
    The Skating Club of Maine-Northern Region is holding registration for the 2008-2009 season on Thursday from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Presque Isle Recreation Center.     Anyone from beginners to advanced skaters are encouraged to sign up for a variety of classes being offered. Options include a six-week learn-to-skate session, one- and two-day basic skills sessions, adult, advanced, family skate and stroking.
    A $50 deposit will be due the night of registration.
    For more information, contact Haley Kelley, skating director, at 540-1177 or Kathy Scott, club president, at 769-7291.
Nunez third, Condon eighth in XC meet
    Ryan Washington of Caribou and Kendra Stephens of Union 122 captured individual titles and the Viking boys and girls took first in the team standings at a middle school cross country meet held last Wednesday at the University of Maine at Presque Isle.
    Washington’s winning time in the boys’ meet was 13 minutes, 20 seconds. Nate Tucker of Limestone followed in 13:40, with Saul Nunez of Presque Isle, Tsion MacLeod of Union 122 and Colby Holdworth of Caribou following.
    Caribou scored 28 points, with Presque Isle next with 42 and Limestone third with 62.
    On the girls’ side, Stephens crossed the finish line in 13:41, 24 seconds ahead of Caribou’s Hannah Graham. The Vikes also took the next five positions, led by, in order, Dominique Hessert, Emily Soderberg and Ashley Richards.
    Shelby Condon was Presque Isle’s top finisher, ending up eighth in 15:39.
    Caribou posted a score of 20, ahead of Union 122 (62), Presque Isle (79) and Limestone (84).
Spud Speedway hosts five classes of racing
    On the Sept. 7 racing card, five competitions took place at Spud Speedway in Caribou.
    In the Powder Puff class, Sheana Caron of Caribou was the winner, followed by Lisa Berry of Van Buren and Brittany Theriault of Fort Kent.
    Connor Thibeau of Fort Fairfield was first in the Young Guns race, as Nate Haney of Connor was the runner-up and Curtis Picard of St. Agatha took third.
    Brock Kilcollins of Fort Fairfield took the checkered flag in the Northern Lights B race, with Roy Crawford of Houlton and Bob Rankin of Stockholm second and third, respectively.
    Eagle Lake driver Rick Saucier took the Northern Lights A event, as Charles Michaud of Grand Falls, New Brunswick and Keith Thibeau of Fort Fairfield rounded out the top three.
    In Street Stock, Dana York of Fort Fairfield was first, while Presque Isle drivers Jon Dixon and Mike Howlett followed in order.
Athletes of the week
    The Presque Isle High School Varsity Club and Big Cheese Pizza are pleased to congratulate Jason Johnson and Kayla Richards for being selected as athletes of the week for the week of Sept. 2-6.
    Johnson led the boys cross country team at the Ellsworth Invitational Meet with a ninth-place finish. Richards scored her first career varsity goal 10 seconds into the game to lead the girls soccer team past Caribou, 2-0.
    Student athletes selected as athletes of the week receive a one-item large pizza, courtesy of Big Cheese Pizza.
UMFK road race
    The University of Maine at Fort Kent will host a five-kilometer road race on Saturday beginning at the UMFK Sports Center. Race-day registration and number pick-up will begin at 9 a.m. with the race beginning at 10 a.m.
    The first 30 participants will receive a T-shirt. Racers will compete in four different age groups. For more information, contact Eric Werntgen at 834-7828.
Truck pull slated Sept. 20
    The Northern Penobscot Pullers Association will host its final local horsepower show of the season in Ashland at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
    All classes of vehicles will be running with pullers coming from as far away as Rhode Island, Connecticut and New Brunswick.
Fat Tire Festival slated in Presque Isle
    The TAMC/NHSC Fat Tire Festival will take place Sept. 27-28 at the Nordic Heritage Center in Presque Isle.
    Events will include an adventure relay, bike rodeo, downhill race and MMBA Point Series cross country mountain bike finale. For more information, visit the web site www.nordicheritagecenter.org.
Pool classes offered
    The Presque Isle Indoor Pool will offer a guard start, first aid and CPR class Oct. 3 and 4 from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. both days.
    Participants must be level IV or above. Call the indoor pool at 764-2564 to register.
Basketball officiating school
    IAABO Board 150 will offer an officiating school for new officials beginning Sept. 29 at Presque Isle High School room 411.
    The class will be held Mondays from 7-9 p.m. and the cost is $40. For more information, contact Harry Orser at 425-4451.
Ireland honored
    Northern Maine Community College men’s soccer player Luke Ireland was named Yankee Small College Conference student-athlete of the week for the week ending Sunday.
    Ireland, a sophomore from Presque Isle, scored three goals over the weekend as the Falcons split matches with CMCC and Hesser College.