Last Updated: 19.Dec.2016

The juniors kicked of their racing season this weekend at the first Eastern Cup, held at Craftsbury. As always, the first Eastern Cup draws a large and competitive field, putting everyone’s summer and fall training to the test. 

The U16s boys were the first racers of the weekend, doing a 5k classic race. Griffin Wright was the first Craftsbury racer, in 4th, followed by Finn Sweet in 13th. Bjorn Westervelt was 23rd and Jack Young was 34th. The next race of the day was for the entire women’s field, who all raced 5k. Alex Lawson led the way in 27th (8th U20), followed by Phoebe Sweet in 46th (9th U18) and Callie Young less than a second behind in 47th (10th U18). Avery Ellis was 50th (14th U20), followed by Quincy Massey-Bierman in 72nd (1st U14). Madeline Strasser was next in 117th (30th U18), followed by Adrienne Remick in 120th (30th U16), Claire Ellis in 125th (35th U18), and Sydney Kulis in 186th (60th U16). 

The men completed the day with a 10k classic race. Noah Eckstein was the first Craftsbury junior in 65th (22nd U18), followed by Henry Hoffert in 88th (21st U20). Will Seivwright was next in 97th (27th U18), followed by Matthew Lawlor in 107th (42nd U18), Jacob Morse in 112th (36th U20), and Alex Warner in 137th (62nd U18). 

Saturday night brought warming temperatures and rain showers, but the skate pursuit-style race went off without a hitch. Competitors all started the race based on their time back from Saturday’s winner. In the U16 boys race, Bjorn Westervelt led the way in 9th, followed by Finn Sweet in 18th. Griffin Wright was 20th and Jack Young was 32nd. In the U16 girls race, Quincy Massey-Bierman was the first Craftsbury racer in 11th (and 1st U14), followed by Adrienne Remick in 25th and Sydney Kulis in 50th. 

The women raced 10k and were led by Callie Young in 14th (2nd U18). Alex Lawson was next in 21st (7th U20) then Avery Ellis in 33rd (8th U20). Phoebe Sweet was 38th (10th U20), followed by Marika Massey-Bierman in 67th (20 U20). Madeline Strasser was 68th (21st U20), Jordi Kulis 87th (29th U18), and Claire Ellis 103rd (40th U18). 

The men wrapped up with the racing with their second 10k race of the weekend. Noah Eckstein was once again the juniors’ top finisher in 61st (23rd U18) followed by Henry Hoffert in 84th (27th U20) and Alex Warner in 87th (37th U18). Matthew Lawlor was 95th (39th U18), then Jacob Morse in 101st (31st U20) and Will Seivwright in 104th (46th U18). 

After the Eastern Cup concluded, the BKL’ers hit the trails for their own afternoon of racing. James Kehler won the lollipop category. In the first and second grade race, Charlie Isselhardt, Thomas Kehler, and Eli Davis went 1,2, and 4. For the third and fourth graders, Anika Leahy led the way in 2nd followed by Charlie Kehler in 3rd, Ruth Krebs in 4th, and Asa Davis in 5th. Cormac Leahy won the fifth and sixth grade race, followed by Orion Cenkl in 5th, Alan Moody in 6th, and Charlie Krebs in 9th. In the 7th and 8th grade race, Tzevi Schwartz was 3rd, Aliza Wright was 4th, and David Moody was 5th. 

Full results can be found here for the Eastern Cup and here for the BKL race. The next Eastern Cup will be held at the Quarry Road Trails in Waterville, Maine on January 14th and 15th.