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Click on the thumbnail images for a full-size picture.
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On Friday the 14th we hosted the 16th Annual MJ's Race. It turned out to be a stellar day with spectacular weather and super conditions for a ski race. With the help of many supporters, volunteers and behind-the-scenes people, we added all the usual extras to make it a special day. We had plenty of food under the blue and white tent, t-shirts and prizes for the athletes, and a strong field of 200 registered racers chasing one of those coveted trophies.The good weather brought out many parents and other spectators and there was quite a crowd at the bottom to see some great competition. I think the kids ski faster when there's a cookout at the finish. Many alums and friends of Holderness were in attendance, some of them being our recent graduates who are presently competing in college programs. It was also the first opportunity for the 14-year olds to jump up and compete with the older age groups. This always creates a number of new opportunities for sibling rivalry to occur, which is sometimes rather entertaining.
After all was said and done we had two new champions and some good skiing from the Holderness/ FSC combine. In the ladies' race, Madeline Packard from WVBBTS took the win. She has had a great season and is headed to the U.S. Nationals next week on a roll. Our own Polly Evans grabbed second place. She too has had a great season, taking the overall Macomber Cup series. Third went to Amy McLaughlin of WVBBTS. Holderness placed five in the top ten with Jamie Crane-Mauzy in 4th, Ashliegh Boulton in 8th and Captain Brittany Tocci in 9th. Driving the ladies' competition to a extra stakes was the presence of the 6th place finisher - our own faculty member and coach Janice Dahl. Only a second behind 2nd place, mother of two boys, and she's still showing her All-American form when racing against athletes half her age. Impressive. In the J2 age group, Crane-Mauzy and Boulton went 1-2 with Emily Starer in 4th and getting a medal. Emily Hayes, fresh off a 3rd place in the J3 Olympics, took second place in the J3 age group.
The Men's race was a real dragrace with the 3 top UNH men battling for a chance to get their name on the trophy. All three just returned from the NCAA's, including our alum Willie Ford. Teammate Mike Cremeno took the honors, with Ford second, and Sean Mcnamara third. Another alum took 4th - Chris Roche skiing for PSC. Fifth place went to our own Bennett Hrabovsky. A great effort for a kid who just came out of the woods from Out Back and strapped on the sleds. The J2 field saw Matt Nolan grab a 5th place medal and the J3 age group had a good showing with FSC athlete Sam Macomber in first and our Carson Houle in second. These two ran at the end and finished 16th and 17th respectively, just missing the front page.
On behalf of Holderness School, the Lafoley family, and the MJ Foundation, I would like to thank everyone for making this another special day for MJ.
(Thanks to Mr. Peck for some of the pictures and Mr. Antonides for more pictures and the write-up)
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