[Work and travel have kept me from posting - sorry this is so late! - Mike Muha]
Jorden Wakeley (Hanson Hills / Cross Country Ski Shop) and Jordyn Ross (Grand Rapids Nordic Ski Team) had a great weekend, each winning both the Michigan Cup Freestyle and Michigan Cup Classic Championships. Both races, part of the Meijer State Games of Michigan, were held at Forbush Corner. The Classic was scheduled for Hanson Hills Recreation Area but low snow caused the race to be relocated. Laps counterclockwise around the man-made snow loop were used for the race.
Let's start with the Juniors. The Soo Finnish Nordic Ski Team dominated Saturday's 4.5km junior freestyle race, with the Arabella MacLachlan winning the overall 5.5k event in 25:01, followed by Elodie Benac and Kayla Dunne in 28:14 and 29:04. For the boys, Zack Dunne - also Soo Finnish Nordic - took first, followed by Aaron Greenberg (Cross County Ski Headquarters) and Rayne Newmister (Team NordicSkiRacer) in a photo finish with a time of 28:59.
Ross pulled away from Amanda Pauli Hanson Hills / Cross Country Ski Shop) to take first for the senior women in the 9km, 31:44 to 32:15. The University of Michigan's Elizabeth Callison took third in 35:42.
Wakely skied into first in 27:33 followed by Edward Roe in 28:17 and Joe Thuente in 28:57.
See the MI Cup Freestyle Championships results (PDF).
Most of the Soo Finnish Nordic Ski Team had to return home on Saturday so missed Sunday's 4.5km classic race. The Vasa Raptors filled the gap taking both the girls and boys podiums. For the girls, Ava Rae Zeratsky took first in 17:11 followed by Anabelle Sketch and Bell Reimers (18:52 and 20:26).
Ava Rae Zeratsky. All photos from Ethan Ross.
Olin Kasperowicz skied away from everyone to win the boys division to win in 13:59. Jack Mazurek and Nate Gorman took second (16:00) and third (17:06).
Start of the classic race. Olin Kasperowicz (bib 50) is just visible behind and to the right of 47.
It was first and second for the second day in a row for Ross and Pauli. Ross finished first in 31:47 with Pauli second in 33:29. Pauli's teammate Mary Schlimmer-Willoughby was third in 33:55.
Jordyn Ross
Wakeley finished first in 26:32. Edward Row of the Vasa Ski Club took second in 27:13, followed closely by Denny Paull from the Grand Rapids Nordic Ski Team.
Jorden Wakeley
Ethan Goss took 152 pictures of both junior and senior racers at the Meijer Classic race. Check them out!
Also, see the full results for the Michigan Cup Classic Championships (PDF).