January has been a very exciting month for the NYSEF XC Program. To start the month the Schulz boys (Scott and Karl) raced their way on to the U18 Scandinavian trip Team and World Junior Team. Once back home, the whole team continued racing at Rikert Nordic center in Vermont against some of the best Juniors in the east. With some great results posted by James Flanigan 6th (U16), Marli Damp 10th (U16) and Scott Schulz 3rd Overall (Junior). It was time to head back to Lake Placid for our home Junior National Qualifier (JNQ) the following weekend.
With great conditions at Mt. Van Hoevenberg, we were treated to a full weekend of fast racing. Competitive racing all around NYSEF was able to put 2 U16 girls in the top 6 with Marli Damp 3rd and Sylvie Link in 5th place. The U16 boys placed 5 in the top 6 and 8 in the top 10. Lily Flanigan placed 12th in Saturdays Open Women’s race while Lauchie Cheney-Seymour and Joseph Wilson notched top ten results in the open Mens field.
On January 27 and 28 weekend, the team finished out their Junior National qualifying at Bristol Mountain with a Skate Sprint on Saturday and Distance Skate race Sunday. Again with some great racing NYSEF had multiple podiums over the weekend across all age categories, and filling many of the Mid Atlantic regions roster for the upcoming Junior Nationals at Soldiers Hollow in Midway, Utah.
Specific details on some of the events mentioned above can be found below:
The Harry Eldridge Junior National Qualifier took place on January 20 and January 21. Racers from the Mid-Atlantic division competed for spots to qualify for Junior Nationals.
Junior Nationals will be taking place in Solider Hollow, Utah in March.
Saturday, January 20
In the Girls U16 Classic 5K, Marli Damp of Lake Placid, N.Y placed third and represented NYSEF on the podium. In the Boys U16 division, James Flanigan (Lake Placid, N.Y.) placed first, Kai Franz (Lake Placid, N.Y.) placed 2nd and Nicholas Kelting (Saranac Lake, N.Y.) placed third.
In the Men’s overall Junior open 10K event, NYSEF athletes, Colton Martin (Erie, Pennsylvania) placed 2nd and Luachy CHENEYSEYMOUR (Vermontville, N.Y.) placed third.
Sunday, January 21
In the Girls U16 Skate 5K, Marli Damp of Lake Placid stepped it up to gain one more spot on the podium, placing 2nd. In the Boys U16 race, James Flanigan of Lake Placid represented NYSEF on the podium in third.
Results from Saturday, January 20 and Sunday, January 21 can be found here.
Photos from Saturday, January 20 Classic Ski Individual Start
Photos from Saturday, January 21 Skate Ski Mass Start
