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Steamboat Spring sophomore leads Sailors in Nordic skates race

John F. Russell
Steamboat Springs' Annika Malacinski crosses the finish line in 16th place during the skate race at the 2017 Colorado State High School Skiing Championships. Malacinski, now a sophomore, opened the season last weekend during the first high school meet of the season at the Steamboat Ski Touring Center.
John F. Russell

Women’s 5K skate results:

1) Maddie Donovan, Vail Mountain — 16:44.12

2) Kate Oldham, Colorado Mountain Rocky — 17:03.73

3) Bridget Donovan, Vail Mountain — 17:12.08

4) Chelsea Moore, Aspen — 17:32.69

5) Noelle Resignolo, Summit — 17:33.90

6) Jordan Miner, Colorado Rocky Mountain — 18:01.95

7) Rose Sandell, Evergreen — 18:03.51

8) Michel Sage, Middle Park — 18:10.98

9) Emma Blakslee, Vail Mountain — 18:22.96

10) Harper Powell, Lake Country, 18:43.70

16) Annika Malacinski, Steamboat — 18:50.51

45) Jenny Adler, Steamboat — 21:42.30

53) Loren Requist, Steamboat — 22:33.67

58) Claire Traverse, Steamboat — 23:25.69

59) Aubrye Rohde, Steamboat — 24:09.01

— There were times on Thursday when Steamboat Springs sophomore Annika Malacinski struggled to see the course, but she wasn’t about to let a little fog on her glasses keep her from finding the finish line in one of the biggest races of the season.

Women’s 5K skate results:

1) Maddie Donovan, Vail Mountain — 16:44.12

2) Kate Oldham, Colorado Mountain Rocky — 17:03.73



3) Bridget Donovan, Vail Mountain — 17:12.08

4) Chelsea Moore, Aspen — 17:32.69



5) Noelle Resignolo, Summit — 17:33.90

6) Jordan Miner, Colorado Rocky Mountain — 18:01.95

7) Rose Sandell, Evergreen — 18:03.51

8) Michel Sage, Middle Park — 18:10.98

9) Emma Blakslee, Vail Mountain — 18:22.96

10) Harper Powell, Lake Country, 18:43.70

16) Annika Malacinski, Steamboat — 18:50.51

45) Jenny Adler, Steamboat — 21:42.30

53) Loren Requist, Steamboat — 22:33.67

58) Claire Traverse, Steamboat — 23:25.69

59) Aubrye Rohde, Steamboat — 24:09.01

“My glasses kept fogging up during the race, but I just had to push through it,” Malacinski said after placing 16th in the individual start freestyle race at the Colorado High School State Skiing Championships in Steamboat Springs.

Her time of 18 minutes, 50.51 was the best for the Steamboat girls team that had five finishers in the race. Teammates Jenny Adler came in 45th at 21:41.30, Loren Requist was 53rd at 22:33.67, Claire Traverse was 58th at 23:25.69 and Aubrey Rohde was 59th at 24:09.01.

Malacinski said the key to a solid finish had to do with sprinting in the uphill sections and pushing the pace on the downhills since a fresh layer of snow made things a little sticky. But despite the challenging conditions, she said the race was a lot of fun.

“Just being a part of this team is so much fun,” she said after the race. “We are just like a family.”

The Sailors came into the races with high hopes but realized they would be facing some tough competition.

The girls from the Vail Mountain School proved that they were contenders with the school’s performance in the Nordic race. Vail Mountain’s Maddie Donovan set the pace in the race with a time of 16:44.12. Her teammate Bridget Donovan was third with a time of 17:12.08. Colorado Rocky Mountain School skier Kate Oldham broke up the 1-2 finish by slipping into second with a time of 17:03.73 to round out the top three girls finishers.

The classic race will wind up the girls events Friday at the Howelsen Hill rodeo grounds. That race is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.

To reach John F. Russell, call 970-871-4209, email jrussell@SteamboatToday.com or follow him on Twitter @Framp1966


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