Skiers compete in frigid temperatures at state race

The Oregon High School Nordic State Championships competitors faced squeaky, slow snow in frigid conditions, making the 7.1-kilometer skate race extra-challenging on day one of the meet last weekend.

Reitler Hodgert of Summit was unfazed by the conditions, flying through the course in 23:20, far ahead of the rest of the field. Hodgert returned to the Summit team this year after spending two years training with a developmental program for the National Junior team.

Alex Yinger (28:18) and Mason Calmettes (28:36) placed 17th and 18th respectively. Devon Calvin placed 35th, followed by Erik Lund in 48th, and Jared Schneider in 57th.

Courtney Blust cracked the top 10 in the girls' race, placing eighth in 31:30. Sarah McKenzie of Redmond won the race in 28:57. Amity Calvin placed 17th in 33:47, followed by Riley Barrett in 40th place and Elena Saldi in 52nd among 91 girls.

Saturday's results in the five-kilometer classic race turned out much better for the Outlaws overall.

Hodgert of Summit once again cruised to victory in 15:52, but Alex Yinger moved way up in the standings with a 10th-place finish in 18:35. Mason Calmettes placed sixteenth (19:29), followed by Devon Calvin (35th), Jared Schneider (42nd) and Erik Lund (43rd).

The girls' race also had a repeat winner, as McKenzie of Redmond took top honors in 21:19. Amity Calvin moved up to ninth placed in 23:29, just under a minute ahead of Courtney Blust, who placed 11th in 24:27. Elena Saldi placed 58th.

"The kids gave their best efforts against tremendous competition," said Coach Tom Blust. "Friday's skate race required tremendous endurance due to the length of the course and the slow snow."

Blust was especially pleased with the way the team dug deep on the second day of competition.

"They all came fired up on Saturday and the results showed that, as nearly all of them moved up in the rankings," he said.

Blust could not say enough about Alex Yinger's classic race: "Perhaps the best moment in coaching is watching one of your athletes put in an epic career-best performance," he said. "Alex Yinger had that day on Saturday, absolutely crushing the classic course."

Results of both days are compiled to determine the overall team and individual champions, included points for placement in a 3 x 1-kilometer relay held after the classic race. The Sisters girls placed fifth, with Redmond unseating Summit for first place. The boys' team placed fourth as Summit notched another team win.

Courtney Blust placed eighth in the combined individual results as the lone Outlaw to achieve top-10 status.

Schools competing in the OHSNO State Championships also included Bend, Crescent Valley, Corvallis, St. Mary's, Hood River Valley, Grant, Cleveland, South Salem and Catlin-Gabel. Much of the team returns next year, including Jared Schneider and Mason Calmettes, who Blust noted as "vastly improved" during the course of the season.

"I hope we can build on our established team and grow as a program," said Blust.