PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Cold temperatures forced the annual Himie Towle Memorial Winter Frolic to be held March 5 instead of as scheduled a day earlier, leading to a smaller than usual turnout.
The annual event, held at the Nordic Heritage Center, featured separate 10-kilometer and 5-K races. Overall winners at the longer distances were Jason Bartley of Presque Isle and Hannah Streinz of Hersey, while Tristan Pelletier of Ashland and Celine Kavanaugh of Grand Falls, New Brunswick captured the 5K titles.
Eighteen racers were involved in the 10K and 10 others in the 5K. There was also a kids’ division that attracted six competitors.
Bartley, skiing for the Nordic Heritage Ski Club, finished the 10K in 20 minutes and 41 seconds and captured the 16-19 age division, while Streinz, competing for the Fort Kent Outdoor Center in the 20-29 female category, crossed the finish line in 25:35.
John Paluszek came in at 22:09 to place second overall in the 10K. Hannah Streinz was third overall, followed by Jeff Dubis of Fort Kent in 25:50, who was the 40-49 age group winner. Lydia Streinz of Hersey and the Nordic Heritage Ski Club was the female runner-up and was fifth overall in 26:36 and Felix Schwarz of Wostawea Ski Club of Fredericton, New Brunswick came in sixth in 27:03.
Sarah Beaulieu of Fort Kent placed third for females and first for the 16-19 division at 28:04 and was seventh overall. John Ball of Wostawea in Fredericton followed in 28:41, which was the top time for the 50-59 division.
Geoffrey Moore of Nordic Heritage Ski Club won the 30-39 division and Peter Forbes of NHSC the 60-69 bracket. Sherry Dubis of Fort Kent won the 40-49 female division and Therese Vernon of NHSC was first for 50-59 females.
In the 5K, Pelletier won in 13:51 with Kavanaugh crossing in 19:31.
Tom Towle of Fort Fairfield, representing the NHSC, was the overall runner-up in 16:15 and took the 50-59 age class. Garrett Tilley of Ashland was third overall in 17:45. Kyle Bartley of Presque Isle and NHSC was first for 40-49 men, Steve Towle of NHSC first for 60-69 men and Bob Sprague of Stockholm and the Snowy Mountain Ski Club led the way in the 70-and-over category. Allison Moore of NHSC was the winner for 40-49 females.
Sullivan Hale, Emmalyne Hale, Caleb Moore and Poppy Hale all were division winners in the kids’ event.
