Yesterday’s Midwest team racing was exciting and awesome. The weather was a carbon copy of the previous day (Low of 31`- high of 45`), so the wax testing and ski choices from Sunday’s preparation were right on. After the morning individual time trial qualification races, a total of 18 Midwest athletes finished in the top 24 in their group and qualified to move up to the afternoon head-to-head heats with 6 athletes contending in each heat. In each of the 4 quarterfinal heats for each of the age groups, 3 athletes moved on to the semifinals, and then were guaranteed a spot in either the A final or B final. For the Midwest, a total of 6 athletes moved on to the semifinals and A & B Finals. Each of these 6 athletes placed in the top ten in their Age Group.

Arriving in Anchorage, the CXC Midwest JO Team had anticipated the poorer snow conditions that this area has experienced during this season, so the snow conditions were not a great shock to us. The snow is old and transformed many times over and the base is just hanging on each day. The race organization has been making a heroic effort in shoveling, hauling snow, and adjusting courses. The sprint course has been changed several times and at this point it looks like a 1.2km race that cannot use the main stadium due to the ice & water accumulation.