FORT KENT, Maine — Hundreds of high-school athletes representing five states competed at the New England Nordic Ski Association (NENSA) Eastern High School Championships at the Fort Kent Outdoor Center during the weekend of March 15-17.
“We estimate the event brought 400 people to town, and it took over 50 great volunteers to put it on,” said Carl Theriault president of the Fort Kent Outdoor Center. “It was nice that we had five local skiers competing against 200 of the best skiers from all New England.”
NENSA, the community Olympic development program for cross-country skiing in New England, as well as the umbrella for most organized Nordic skiing events in the region, awarded the local facility the opportunity to host the event, according to Theriault.
-
- The Fort Kent Outdoor Center hosted hundreds of skiers at the New England Nordic Ski Association Eastern High School Championships during the weekend of March 15-17. (Pat Theriault)
Among the local skiers who were able to participate as a result were Dolcie Tanguay and Miguel Sanclemente from Fort Kent, Isabel Jandreau of Madawaska, Kassandra Nelson of Ashland, and overall winner for the women, Abigail Streinz from Hersey. Sam Bosse from Edmundston also competed in the guest class at the races.
The Eastern High School Championships are considered the top event for high school cross country athletes in New England.
“There is a good chance that skiers here will go on to ski in a World Cup or the Olympics. This is a premier event; this is a big one,” said Maine coach Buzz Bean.
Vermont team leader Fred Griffin agreed.
“It’s a big deal,” he said. “Currently there are four skiers on the U.S. ski team who skied in this event in high school. Many of these kids will go on to ski in college.”
Griffin, whose athletes have competed at other events at the FKOC in the past said he felt it was a great venue for the championships.
“The first thing is the hospitality; everyone is polite, respectful, and helpful. We always have a feeling we are very welcome here and there are world class cross country ski trails at the Outdoor Center,” he said. “There are always a large number of volunteers who know all the many jobs needed to put on a high level cross country race.”
Greyson Davis,16, helped lead Vermont to first place victories in the team and mixed relay races.
“The trails were beautiful,” Davis said. “This is one of my favorite places to ski.”
Bean said he enjoyed the small community feel of the ski community in Fort Kent.
“Everybody worked together. Carl has done a great job here to help us out. The trails are great, the people are great and the food is exceptional,” he said.
Race results are available online at: http://barttiming.com/XCski/Results19/ehsc2019.htm.
