RUMFORD – The first day of competition for the 2011 U.S. Cross Country Skiing Championships featured a little bit of rain, a little bit of sunshine and 424 skiers traversing a surprisingly resilient ribbon of snow.
When all the morning qualifying and afternoon elimination races had ended Sunday afternoon at Black Mountain, Washington natives Torin Koos and Holly Brooks each had won $1,200 and a national classical sprint title.
“We were super lucky to get this first day in,” said John Farra of the U.S. Ski Team. “There were a lot of people who were impressed we were able to race.”
Warm temperatures and light rain melted much of the snow that fell in last weekend’s storm, but the Chisholm Ski Club’s 1.4-kilometer loop held up well Sunday.
“This was legitimately hard, slow skiing,” Farra said. “The people with the most fitness were able to display it.”
Finishing second behind Koos in the men’s open division and earning $600 was Michael Sinnott of Idaho.
Skyler Davis, a postgraduate student from the Stratton Mountain School in Vermont, placed third and did not accept the $300 prize in order to retain his NCAA eligibility.
In the women’s open division, Eliska Hajkova of the Czech Republic and the University of Colorado placed behind Brooks, but didn’t count in the standings because she isn’t a U.S. citizen.
That gave second place and $600 to Morgan Smyth of Vernon, Vt. and third and $300 to Sadie Bjornsen of Alaska.
Among the skiers with Maine connections who advanced to the quarterfinals of elimination racing by placing among the top 30 in morning qualifying sprints were Sam Tarling of Cumberland, Nils Koons of Sidney, Hilary McNamee of Fort Fairfield and Lucy Garrec of Freeport
On Sunday night, organizers decided to push back Tuesday’s scheduled racing to Wednesday in order to allow more time both for making snow and for moving snow onto the trails.
Classical races of 10 kilometers for women and 15 for men are scheduled.
Such a move could also push Thursday’s scheduled freestyle races back a day in order to allow sufficient rest between distance events.
However, no decision has been made about the schedule beyond Wednesday.
Staff Writer Glenn Jordan can be contacted at 791-6425 or at:
gjordan@pressherald.com
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