Olympians shine at Verizon competition

PRESQUE ISLE – U.S. Olympian Wendy Wagner won her second race in two days on Wednesday when she captured the women’s 5-kilometer classic title at the Verizon Nordic Heritage Classic at the Maine Winter Sports Center’s international competition trails.

Wagner finished the 3.1-mile course in 16 minutes, 23.30 seconds, while Ekaterina Ivanova took second in 16:47.40. Christa Case was third in 17:06.00 while Sarah Dominick (19:31.90) and Kelsey Bouchard (20:11.30) were fourth and fifth in the six-woman field. Dominick and Bouchard compete for the Maine Winter Sports Center team.

In the men’s 10K race, also contested on Wednesday morning, Andrew Johnson – also a U.S. Olympian – took control on the second loop of the course and won in 28:22.50. George Grey of Canada was second in 28:36.50 while U.S. Olympian Kris Freeman was third in 28:47.20. Chris Jeffries (29:28.40) and David Chamberlain of the Subaru Factory Team (29:29.80) rounded out the top five.

On Tuesday night, Freeman and Wagner came out on top in the one-kilometer sprint competition.

Freeman earned the $1,000 check by topping Grey and Johnson. Steve Scott, an 18-year-old out of the Minnesota Biathlon program finished fourth.

Jeffries won the men’s ‘B’ final and finished fifth overall. Former Bates College standout David Chamberlain of Wilton was Maine’s top finisher in 17th.

In the women’s competition, Wagner held off a late challenge from Ivanova of the Vermont National Guard to earn the win. Case of Alaska charged past Ivanova in the final 50 meters to take second. Ivanova, a former NCAA champ, was third. Bouchard and Dominick of the Maine Winter Sports Center were fourth and fifth, respectively.