High School Racing Highlights

Some of the highlights submitted by coaches and volunteers from the past week of high school racing action...

Dec 18 Lake Conference Sprint Championships at Elm Creek

Some of the top skiers in the state battled it out for the Lake Conference Sprint Championships this past Thursday at Elm Creek Park Reserve. The Boys final saw Hans Nygren (Lakeville South), pitted against Erik Fagerstrom and Jason Moody (Eden Prairie), and Tyler Abery (ISD 196). On the final hill, Abery pulled ahead of the pack to take a close win with Nygren edging out Fagerstrom for second. The Girls Meet went as expected as the top four finished in exactly the same order as in qualifying. Lauren Rentala (Eden Prairie) edged out Danielle Berndt (Kennedy) and Sarah Daniels (Burnsville) for the win.
Dec 19

Dec 19 NW Suburban Conference Sprint Championships at Elm Creek

Over 350 skiers from nine schools competed in the race.  There were two 1K courses set up and the boys and girls alternated courses each round.  There were 16 heats each in the first round of the boys and girls races and the top four from each heat advanced to the next round.  In the semi-finals, 3 racers from each heat advanced to the finals for both the boys and girls.  The final heats started and finished in front of the Elm Creek chalet with cheering crowds lining the edges of the course. Joe Dubay, Andover, and Eleanor Magnuson, Champlin Park, collected the victories.

Dec 20 Lake Conference Kickoff Classic at Valleywood

Hans Nygren (Lakeville South) edged out Erik Fagerstom (Eden Prairie) for the win in the 5km Lake Conference Kick-off Classic Race at Valleywood Golf Course this Thursday with Andy Keller (Chaska) in third and Tyler Abery (ISD 196) in fourth. In contrast to the close Boys race, Sarah Daniels (Burnsville) and the Burnsville Girls team dominated the field with Sarah skiing to a 28 second win over freshman team mate Sharmila Ahmed. Danielle Berndt (Kennedy) took third with Taylor Bates (Eden Prairie) in fourth.

Dec 20 Classic Suburban Conference at Mahtomedi

This was a classic technique meet on the Mahtomedi High School trail system that runs for 2 complete laps over the current athletic fields and out onto the new school property that includes some hills and woods. There were a gazillion fellow Mahtomedi students out in the woods with stereos going, and many parents, grandparents, and ski team alumni home for the holidays watching.
The recent top two girls in the conference, Kelsey Zachman from Mahtomedi and Kate Moran from Henry Sibley were both out due to injuries. Julia Reich, a freshman, from Mahtomedi, won the girls' race by 48 seconds. Tom Deroma for Richfield won the boys' race by 16 seconds.