FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CXC Central HS Champs and J3/J4 Champs at the Birkie

CXC congratulates all athletes participating in the 6th Annual CXC J3/J4 Championships at the Birkie.

A record number of 30 CXC J3/J4 athletes competed along with 170 of their peers in this action packed interval start race on the challenging and technical Telemark Fever Trail during a cool and snowy morning the day before the Birkie.

Elias Featherly, Atlantic Mine, MI dominated the J3 Boys race while Elizabeth Simak, Hayward, WI eked out a one second win over Ruth Oppliger, Hancock, MI, followed three seconds back by her sister Louise Oppliger. In the J4 race Max Scrimgeour, Boulder, CO led a strong field across the line. Ellen Wiitala, Marquette, MI won the J4 girls race among a strong contingent of Michigan and Wisconsin athletes.

Full results of the CXC J3/J4 Championships and other Junior Birkie events may be found at
http://www.itiming.com/html/raceresults.php?year=2006&EventId=115&eventype=0
 
 
CXC congratulates the winners of the First Annual CXC Central High School Championships at the Birkie.

The top 10 pursuit male and female athletes based on Championship results from Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan were invited along with two males from Illinois to compete head to head in a continuous pursuit event the day before the Birkie as one of the three Junior Birkie Events.

The girls began their mass start 3k free leg in a heavy snowfall. Jenny Narveson from Hayward, WI entered the pit boxes for her transition to classic with a slight lead over Joanna Pace and Heather Bassett both from Lakeland, WI. The three skied together through a tricky 3k classic in continuing heavy snow. Entering the final 200m they were tip to tail. In the final sprint to the line, Joanna stretched out a two second lead over Heather, followed by Jenny five seconds back.

In the boy’s race, Keith Helminen from Larium, MI and Chris Bowler, Wausau, WI battled back and forth for the entire race. In the end Keith prevailed with a thirteen second win over Chris, followed by Danny Sonnentag from Waukesha, WI.

Full results of the Pursuit and other Junior Birkie events may be found at
http://www.itiming.com/html/raceresults.php?year=2006&EventId=115&eventype=0