PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The State of Maine Collegiate Ski Championships are typically held in western Maine, but the Nordic Heritage Center was the host venue for the Jan. 27 event, with approximately 80 skiers representing six college programs attending.
“Everything went very smoothly with help from volunteers from UMPI and the Nordic Heritage Center crew,” said UMPI coach Tim Whiton. “Conditions were perfect, it was cold in the morning and warming into high teens by the start of the women’s race and the snow was fast making for some exciting racing.”
The men’s skate-style competition was held first and the race was 10 kilometers in length.
The pack stayed together for the first three kilometers until Zane Fields of Colby, the top skier in the East, broke away and won by a 30-second margin, logging a time of 23 minutes and 38.3 seconds. Bowdoin’s Eliot Ketchel (24:06.9) and Bates’ Parker McDonald (24:14) were second and third, respectively.
UMPI skiers Jason Bartley and Connor Hrynuk performed well, though both were coming off some sickness and fell out of the top 10. Bartley was 13th overall out of 39 in 25:07.8 and Hrynuk came in 17th in 25:27.9.
“Everyone was working very hard, but the fast snow made it hard to really haul other racers back in during the last half of the race.”
Owl skier Nino Manzella had a spectacular crash 200 meters into the race and was moving very fast late, but ended up 20th in 25:54.9.
Colby College won with 13 points, with Bowdoin just one point back. UMPI placed fifth in the team standings.
The women’s race was delayed by 30 minutes after the discovery of a bear den on the course caused a re-route. Kaelyn Woods of Bates won a close race in 1:23.10, 2.2 seconds ahead of runner-up Kirsten Miller of Colby. Bowdoin skiers captured the third and fourth positions.
UMPI’s Valentin Annuanziata came in 22nd out of the 24 racers. Her time was 1:28.36.
Colby again came out on top to secure the Chummy Broomhall Cup for the sixth time, tying Bates for the most team titles.
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- Valentina Annunziata, right, of the University of Maine at Presque Isle ski team, gets out at the start of the Jan. 27 Chummy Broomhall Cup women’s race held at the Nordic Heritage Center in Presque Isle. (Courtesy of UMPI)
