Cameron Wolfe has been unbeatable on the boys Nordic skiing scene during Colorado High School Activities Association events the past two years. Tai-Lee Smith was untouchable much of this season amongst the girls.
Wolfe of Vail Mountain School won the boys 5-kilometer classic race Thursday at the Durango Nordic Center in the first of two Nordic races at the CHSAA state skiing championships. Summit’s Smith won the girls race in dominant fashion.
The boys race was hotly contested by a strong pack of skiers. Wolfe finished in 16 minutes, 1 second, the same time as Aspen’s Everett Olson, as Wolfe edged him by a ski-length. Aspen’s Colt Whitley came across third in 10:06, followed by Durango’s Logan Moore in fourth in 16:32.
Wolfe won both the classic and pursuit races at last year’s CHSAA state championships and made it three state titles in a row Thursday.
“It’s pretty nice to finish out high school with some good races,” he said. “I’m stoked. Hopefully I can keep this going in the next race tomorrow.”
While Wolfe won for Vail Mountain School, it was Aspen that took a commanding lead in the boys point standings going into Friday’s pursuit race. Along with Olson and Whitley’s result, Noah Wheeless was sixth in 16:49 and Taiga Moore added a 10th-place finish in 17:19. Aspen has 172 points, while Middle Park is second with 158.
The host Durango Demons had a banner day, as Noah Bodewes added to Logan Moore’s finish with a ninth-place result in 16:57. Cobe Freeburn also placed 26th in 18:30, as the Demons scored 153 points to sit in third place.
Logan Moore, a three-time junior national qualifier who will attend this year’s nationals next month in Alaska, said he is looking forward to Friday’s pursuit race, an event he prefers. Last weekend, he skied the same course at the Durango Nordic Center during junior national qualifying. He said it was tougher Thursday.
“There were more steep hills, longer hills in general,” he said. “Then there were shorter, flatter downhills. There was a lot less rest and it was a lot more difficult.”
Soft snow conditions led to a bit slower times. It also helped the boys stay in a tight pack until the final kilometer.
“I knew the last downhill coming to the finish, it was important to go down first,” Wolfe said. “I made my move going up the last hill to keep in front going to the finish.”
Wolfe said the course offered nowhere to rest, but he had the legs and upper body in the end to hold off a charging Olson.
Smith won the girls race in 19:14, 13 seconds ahead of Battle Mountain’s Grace Johnson and 35 seconds in front of third-place Liz Harding of Battle Mountain.
“The snow was really soft, and the tracks weren’t really set, but it was fun,” said Smith. “It was hard without tracks. The snow was soft and your ski would go in.
“I didn’t qualify for the skate race Friday because I didn’t go to enough races this year, so it was fun to win the classic.”
Instead of the last hill, Smith made her move earlier.
“I was staying behind pacing off all the other girls,” she said. “In the flat, open area near the end of the loop, I started picking up a bigger stride and then broke away a bit.”
[Image;3]Battle Mountain has 169 points to lead the girls competition going into Friday. Aspen is second with 158 points, one point in front of Summit. Aspen’s Emma Barsness placed sixth in 20:14, three seconds and one place in front of teammate Eva McDonough. Jordan Miner was 12th for Aspen in 20:39.
Durango sits in fifth with 132 points after it was led by Halle Moore’s eighth-place time of 20:22. Hannah Garvey placed 33rd for DHS in 23:10, six seconds and one place in front of teammate Tea Forrest.
With more snow expected to fall Thursday night and Friday at the Durango Nordic Center 26 miles north of Durango, Logan Moore said his coaches will have the team ready.
“Our coaches have been great putting wax on that’s not super sticky but that still gives you enough kick to get over the hills,” he said.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
