2002 J-2 Championships

NENSA Volvo 2002 J-2 Championships

with special guests from Russia!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Subject: Maine wins overall, at the Volvo New England J2 XC Ski Festival

Date: March 8-11, 2002

Site: Sugarloaf Outdoor Center, Carrabassett Valley, Maine

Contact: Dorcas Wonsavage, 207/778-0653, dorcas@nensa.net

Media Coordinator, New England Nordic Ski Association

For complete results, go to www.nensa.net

For the third year in a row, Maine's J2 cross-country skiers pulled off a win over Vermont, at the Volvo New England J2 XC Ski Championships this weekend. Skiing in the blue and gold suits, given to them by Governor Angus King after their win last year, Team Maine fought off Vermont in the sprint races and then just skied away with the title in the relays.

The fight for third saw New Hampshire strong in the classic races and stronger still in the relays, and, but for two unfortunate DQs for incorrect tags, they might have been there. Instead, consistent Massachusetts skied their best races and grabbed third.

In the girls' races the names at the top didn't change much. Laura Spector (MA) was first in both the 5km classic and the 5km freestyle, mixing it up with the Russians, and 3^rd in the sprints. Kate Barton was Maine's lead skier, capturing two, second place finishes, and a 1^st in the sprints. And Leila English (VT) captured two, third place finishes! And a 5^th in the sprints. Alice Nelson (NH) led her team with a 7^th and 13^th.

On the boys' side, Maine's Ed Hunter and Ben Koons traded places at the top, Hunter grabbing the 5km freestyle and classic wins and Koons with two, second place finishes, and a win in the sprints. They were supported by Nick Kline, and Forrest Tobie, all with top 5s during the weekend. Nat Jacques was Massachusetts' lead man, with a 3^rd in the classic, a fourth in the skate, and another fifth in the sprints. Vermont's Tim Reynolds started with a 4^th in the classic, then a 2^nd in the freestyle. New Hampshire's top guys were Pavel Sotskov with his 12^th in the classic and 8th in the freestyle, and Max Hopkins, with his 23^rd in the sprints. But the J2 Festival it was all about Team, as Maine found itself behind Vermont after the first races, despite having several fast skiers. The points they needed to win had to come from skiers #5-20. These were the skiers who skied faster and faster as the weekend progressed.

Skiing, eating, and sharing homes all weekend with their new Russian friends from St. Petersburg Academy, the best moment of the Volvo New England J2 Festival weekend was when the winning Maine relay team of Ben Koons, Katie Craig, Ed Hunter, and Kate Barton stood for photos with the real winner of the relay, Pavel Kurochkina, Evgenia Kurochkina, Konstantin Dodkovenko and Olga Fillipova. After the first photos, each Maine skier took off their medals and put them around the necks of their friends.

The racing will continue next weekend at Bolton Valley, Vermont, with the Volvo Eastern High School Championships. Again, another three day, four race, state against state competition. And the visiting Russian group will be racing there, too.

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- The New England Nordic Ski Association is a non-profit organization for the development of cross-country skiing in New England.

-Support of NENSA’s year round recreational, competitive and educational programs comes from Title Sponsor, Volvo North America, and Associate Sponsors, Irving Oil Company, Buderus Hydronic Systems, and Adelphia Communications.

- For more information on cross-country skiing in New England, for an updated schedule

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