Outstanding results for Thunder Bay athletes at the Ontario Youth Cross Country Ski Championships

NEWS RELEASE
BIG THUNDER/LAPPE NORDIC SKI CLUBS
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Thirty-seven of Thunder Bay’s U10 to U14 cross country skiers from Big Thunder and Lappe Nordic Ski Clubs, as well as 14 ski clubs (175 athletes) from across the province, travelled to Sault Ste. Marie this weekend for the 2022 Ontario Youth Championships.  Both ski clubs came home with an armload of medals as well as 2 coveted technique awards won by 11-year-old Britton Vander-Vegte of Lappe for her classic technique and 13-year-old Jillian Thompson of Big Thunder for her skate technique.

On Saturday, Maggie Horihan was the youngest Thunder Bay athlete to make it to the podium with a silver for the 2012 girls.  The 2010 girls had a strong showing with Hayden Nisula in 1^st and Abigail Skomoroh in 2^nd.  The 2009 girls had 5 top 10 finishes.  Kiera Hall took the gold for the 2008 girls.  The youngest Thunder Bay boy, Eli Hautala, just missed the podium for the 2011 boys.  Brock Balabuck took the silver for the 2010 boys.  Reid Thompson got 2^nd and Sawyer Puumala 3^rd plus there were 3 more top 10 finishes for the 2009 boys.  The 2008 boys had 2 top 10 finishes.

On Sunday, there was a podium sweep as the 2010 Thunder Bay girls dominated the mass start Classic race with Hayden Nisula in 1^st, Abigail Skomoroh in 2^nd and Emmi Puiras in 3^rd.  Kirsti Puiras got the silver for the 2011 girls. 2009 twin siblings, Jillian and Reid Thompson both reached the podium for silver medals!  And another silver medal was won by 2008 girl Madison Nisula.  Brock Balabuck (2009 boy) and Sawyer Puumala (2008 boy) rounded out the medal wins with a bronze each.

Sunday’s classic mass start was an interesting experience particularly for the U14 girls.  With over 40 girls at the start line, there were several unplanned events along the course that made for many great stories but to recap one hit a tree, one lost a pole, there were pile ups and more!  Beyond podium and top 10 finishes, many of these young athletes achieved personal bests and were racing for the first time away from home.  These accomplishments were also celebrated!

Full Thunder Bay Results:

Saturday Interval Start Skate - Girls by YOB: 2012 Maggie Horihan 2^nd, Kirsti Puiras 6^th; 2010 Hayden Nisula 1^st, Abigail Skomoroh 2^nd, Britton Vander-Vegte 4^th, Emmi Puiras 6^th; 2009 Hanna Abbink 4^th, Jillian Thompson 5^th, Klara van Duyn 7^th, Clare Sunila 9^th, Laine Hupka 10^th, Daphne Vanlenthe 14^th; Tessa Hupka 15^th, 2008 Kiera Hall 1^st, Kaia Hakanen 4^th, Madison Nisula 12^th, Avery Sproule 14^th, Libby Horihan 18^th, Elena Weber 22^nd, Sydney Ball 24^th.

Saturday Interval Start Skate – Boys by YOB: 2011 Eli Hautala 4^th; 2010 Brock Balabuck 2^nd, Brody Horihan 5^th, Palmer Hunt 11^th, Jack Nyitrai 21^st; 2009 Reid Thompson 2^nd, Sawyer Puumala 3^rd, Felix Doucet 5^th, Kai Cameron 7^th, Oskar Berglund 8^th, Cedar Clark 11^th, Jonah Green 12^th, 2008 Kai Hautala 5^th, Rudy Balabuck 7^th, Nolan Nyitrai 18^th, Max Wiebe 24^th.

Sunday Mass Start Classic – Girls by YOB: 2012 Kirsti Puiras 2^nd, Maggie Horihan 5^th; 2010 Hayden Nisula 1^st, Abigail Skomoroh 2^nd, Emmi Puiras 3^rd, Britton Vander-Vegte 5^th, 2009 Jillian Thompson 2^nd, Hanna Abbink 4^th, Klara van Duyn 6^th, Clare Sunila 9^th, Laine Hupka 11^th, Tessa Hupka 13^th, Daphne Vanlenthe 15^th; 2008 Madison Nisula 2^nd, Kaia Hakanen 12^th, Kiera Hall 17^th, Avery Sproule 18^th, Libby Horihan 19^th, Sydney Ball 20^th, Elena Weber 23^rd.

Sunday Mass Start Classic – Boys by YOB: 2011 Eli Hautala 6^th; 2010 Brock Balabuck 3^rd, Brody Horihan 6^th, Palmer Hunt 10^th, Jack Nyitrai 12^th; 2009 Reid Thompson 2^nd, Sawyer Puumala 3^rd, Kai Cameron 5^th, Cedar Clark 8^th, Felix Doucet 10^th, Oskar Berglund 11^th, Jonah Green 15^th, 2008 Rudy Balabuck 4^th, Kai Hautala 6^th, Nolan Nyitrai 15^th, Max Wiebe 24^th.