Jamie Mountain
The Muskie Nordic ski team competed in its second meet of the NorWOSSA season last Tuesday in Atikokan that was highlighted by three podium finishes.
Tori Toriseva claimed top spot in junior girls’ 3.7-km division, clocking a time of 14:29.
Angie Redford placed third (16:02) while the other Muskies finishers included Alacea Yerxa (seventh) and Joanna Empey (eighth).
In the Grade 7-8 girls’ 3.7-km division, Emma Toriseva nabbed second place (14:45).
The rest of the Muskie crew included Haleigh DeGagne in sixth, followed by Jenna Bailey and Hannah Anderson.
Ava Dolyny and Emily Bliss did not start the race.
“Tori and Emma Toriseva have both been really strong in the early season,” noted Muskie coach Rebecca Himanen.
“Both were strong last year, in their first year skiing, but both are posting even better times early this season, improving by over six minutes each in their first race as compared to the same . . . loop last year,” she noted.
Fort High didn’t have any skiers compete in the Grade 7-8 boys’ 3.7-km division.
In the junior boys’ 4.5-km division, Muskie Stephen Dueck placed eighth while William Richards was right behind in ninth.
Jessica Empey was the lone Muskie competitor in the senior girls’ 4.5-km division, finishing eighth.
And in the senior boys’ 7.6-km division, Muskies Joe Dueck and Conor Jarvis finished fifth and seventh, respectively.
“We have had a very good start to the season,” Himanen enthused.
“Our returning skiers have continued to show improvement over last year and our new skiers are really starting to get the technique.
“We had snow early this year so we got to start training outside earlier than usual,” she added.
“But the cold temperatures have limited how often we have managed to actually ski,” Himanen conceded.
Up next for the Muskies is a meet Jan. 30 in Dryden, followed by one in Kenora on Feb. 5.
OFSAA then will take place Feb. 22-23 in Sudbury.
