Welcome to the 2010 USSA XC Junior Olympics

Sunny Skies Continue for Third Competition

It’s been consistent for Corey Stock, a Cambridge Sports Union skier on the New England team. For the third competition day in a row, she has been the first of the J2 girls to cross the finish line. Her time for Friday’s 5k freestyle was 13:18.1. She was followed by two InterMountain skiers, Sloan Storey and Anika Miller. For the J2 boys, Patrick Caldwell led the pack with 11:42.7, improving on his 5^th place finish from Wednesday. The New England skier was followed by two InterMountain skiers, Cole Morgan and Marc Jackson.

In the girls J1 competition, Michaela Frias from the Rocky Mountain team finished in a time of 13:31.1. She was followed by Katie Gill if InterMountain and Annie Hart of Mid-West. In her bio information, Katie boasted that one time she was able to eat six doughnuts in a row. Chances are she had a better breakfast Friday morning to place second!

Another Sunny Day at the Races Wednesday

Cookies for a Cause

Even in death, Willie is making a difference. Willie Neal, a young man passionate about life, skiing and the planet, was tragically killed during roller-ski training in Maine last summer. But in his short life he made an impact in an area about which he felt strongly—environmental awareness. He founded two organizations focused on community education about environmental issues, particularly a “No-idling” campaign. The Willie Neal Environmental  Awareness Fund was created to carry forward Willie’s passion. Buying some “Cookies for a Cause” will help toward funding projects to implement his ideas. The cookies, other items and information can be found at a table in the Lodge. Please buy some cookies, pick up some information and don’t let your car idle.

High Definition Videos of All Races

Frank Grant of Grant Visuals is taking videos of all races and posting the highlights on You Tube. The links for each day are listed below:

Monday

Wednesday

    The Irving Woodlands Classic Sprint Races

The Irving Woodlands Classic Sprint races went off without almost a hitch on Monday, March 8, the first competition day of the 2010 USSA Junior Olympic Championships. There was a 15 minute delay in the afternoon that delayed the start of some of the races, but overall it was an exciting day at the Nordic Heritage Center.

When the finals results came in, it was a New England sweep in the top three positions for the Female J2 race, with Corey Stock, Heather Mooney, and Madalyn Pfeifer taking first, second and third places. Cole Morgan from the Inner Mountain team took first place in the Male J2 race, followed by  Eli Hoenig of New England and Haakon Sigurslid from Rocky Mountain.

New England had another top three sweep in the 1.2 km  Men's J1 race from David Sinclair, Jackson Rich, and Hans Halvorsen. The New England team did almost as well in the female J1 team capturing 1^st and 3^rd with Isabel Caldwell and Gage Fichter. Annie Liotta, from the Alaska, came in 2^nd.

Of the 12 finalists in the MOJ race, nine were from the New England team, including the top three finishers:  Alex Schulz, Skyler Davis, and Chase Marston. The New England team also had the top finisher in the female Older Junior race, Kaitlynn Miller. She was followed by Rebecca Konieczny from Alaska and Corrine Malcolm from the Mid West team.

Wednesday brings the Irving Woodlands Classic Mass Start with races beginning at 10 a.m.

  You Too can be a YouTube Star!

University of Maine at Presque Isle students in an MIS Projects class will be giving JO athletes the opportunity to send a message home via YouTube. The students will have camera in hand at the start and finish of races, but they will also be taping athletes throughout the Junior Olympics, giving them an opportunity to talk about their races, their impressions of northern Maine, or just say, "Hi Mom!"

 The Faces Behind the Bells

The connection between Nordic skiing and cowbells will be kept alive during the 2010 Junior Olympics through a donation from I-Care Pharmacy. Over 500 school children from local schools will attend the competitions with cowbells in hand to cheer on the athletes. The bells, provided by I-Care Pharmacy, will give the children an audible way to participate in the races and be a wonderful souvenir.

  Be Green in a World of White

TAMC and Key Bank major sponsors of 2010 USSA Cross Country Junior Olympic Championships

PRESQUE ISLE- The 2010 USSA Cross Country Junior Olympic Championships Organizing Committee held a press conference, Thursday, September 3 at 1:30 p.m. at the Nordic Heritage Center to announce TAMC and Key Bank as the event's major sponsors. TAMC will be a platinum sponsor contributing $30,000 and Key Bank will be the volunteer sponsor contributing $20,000.

MMG and Katahdin Trust Company sponsor major JO ceremonies

PRESQUE ISLE-The excitement of the upcoming 2010 USSA Cross Country Junior Olympic Championships in Presque Isle will be framed by the pageantry of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. Those ceremonies will be more spectacular and memorable thanks to the sponsorship of local businesses.

Maine Mutual Group will support the Opening Ceremony with a $7,500 donation. Scheduled for Sunday, March 7 at 3 p.m. in Gentile Hall at the University of Maine at Presque Isle, the Opening Ceremony is an opportunity for the local community to celebrate and mingle with the athletes and their coaches and parents.

I-Care Pharmacy sponsors Junior Olympic School Guide

PRESQUE ISLE- The upcoming Junior Olympics at the Nordic Heritage Center in March has Nordic skiing athletes from around the country preparing their bodies for the competition. The event is also giving local school children an opportunity to enhance their knowledge of many areas through the sport of skiing. This learning is made possible through a specially-prepared School Guide.