RUMFORD — Bitter cold couldn’t stop Orono senior Clara White and Fort Kent senior Alden Reardon, who finished with the fastest times in the boys and girls races Saturday at the Sassi Memorial at Black Mountain.
With temperatures in the low teens, start times were delayed, but both White and Reardon said the weather conditions were favorable for the 5-kilometer classical race.
“Perfect temperature, perfect snow,” said Reardon. “Really fun course. I really like this course.”
Reardon, a Varsity Maine All-State skier last season after sweeping the Class C Nordic races, posted a winning time of 14 minutes, 8.1 seconds. He finished second at the Sassi Memorial last season.
“I was really happy with it since we’ve only been really having races in (Aroostook County), so it was nice to see how I was doing statewide,” Reardon said.
Yarmouth skiers Leif Hellstedt (14:49.5) and Xander Gordon (15:02.3) finished second and third.
White (15:26.1) paced the field in the girls race. Gould Academy’s Mallory Raymond (16:43.2) and Grace Scott (17:58.0) joined her on the podium.
“Waxing was really good, and it was just a really fun day,” White said. “Nice weather, not as cold as I expected, which was kind of nice.”
White has enjoyed a memorable high school career. Last year, she won Class C state championships in classical, freestyle and pursuit, in addition to a victory at the Sassi Memorial. She wants to spend the rest of her senior season enjoying her time with her Red Riots teammates – especially Ellie Arsenault, who White says has made significant improvement this season.
Arsenault (23:01.1) was Orono’s only other participant Saturday and placed 55th in a field of 112.
“I’m really excited for the next couple weeks,” White said.
White and the Red Riots will be back at Black Mountain for the MVC championship, beginning with the freestyle competition on Wednesday.
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