Eagles shine in N.H. Series

Whitaker Woods was a hub of activity Saturday as the New Hampshire Nordic Coaches Association successfully held the largest high school cross country ski race in the state. Close to 600 athletes from more than 40 schools competed in the second leg of the New Hampshire Series involving all public and private school Nordic skiers to determine the overall best school program in the state as well as the overall best male and female skier.This race, combined with one held at Waterville Valley Jan. 18, now determines the top 20 boys and girls that will represent New Hampshire at the Eastern High School Championships and the top 20 boys and girls in the J2 age division that will represent their state at the New England J2 Festival next month. Kennett will be well represented at both events Liz Kantack, Emily Eastman and Caitlin Flynn have qualified for the high school championships while Seth McAllister and Andrew Stepanauskas are alternates for the boys. Freshmen Sam Garland and Kate Needham have both earned spots on the J2 team."It was a great day and everything went off so smoothly," Chuck Broomhall, Eagles' head coach and race director, said. "The weather was fine -- the course was beautiful. It really held up great throughout the day. And we skied well, too, which was a big part in it being such a good day."In the boys'' race, over 5.1 kilometers, McAllister led Kennett, placing 16th overall in 18:36 (16:14 was the winning time posted by a Holderness boy). He was followed by Stepanauskas, 29th, 19:08; Todd MacDonald, 40th, 19:47; Garland, 58th, 20:49; Chris Rozek, 62nd, 20:58; Colin Smith, 68th, 21:18; and Colin Ashe, 72nd, 21:36."The boys finished right up there in seventh out of 40 teams," Broomhall said. "We scored 107 points in this race compared to 174 in the first one when we were ninth two weeks ago. I've seen a big improvement in our guys since the start of the season."For the girls, Kantack paced KHS, finishing eighth in 21:22 (19:25 was the winning time by a Holderness skier). Hot on her skis were Eastman, 10th, 21;25; Flynn, 11th, 21:25; Needham, 27th, 23:25; Kathleen Maynard, 31st, 24:25; Amber Mitchell, 37th, 25:04; Amanda Needham, 40th, 25:13; and Carrie McLane, 64th, 27:01."Our girls were third in this race and third overall for the series," Broomhall said. "It's the first time in a long time that that they've been up there in the top three. Hanover was first, Holderness, second; and then we were right there."In the girls B race, Abby Creps was ninth in 27:38, while Nicole Veilleux, 15th, 28:26; and Abby Nichols, 20th, 29:12.In the boys B race, Sean Ashe was 51st in 26:06; and Grant Eastman, 76th, 29:05."Overall," Broomhall said, "it was just a super day. We had a great crowd -- the stands were filled... I can't thank my helpers enough. They were out there all day. Thank goodness it was warm."The Eagles will have their final pre State Meet warm-up tomorrow (1 p.m.) when Plymouth and Kingswood come to Whitaker Woods for a freestyle skate race.