Panthers win varsity women’s title in skiathlon at Tennessee Pass

Suzie Bullock understands her town’s reputation. 

“Everyone always perceives Leadville as one of the coldest towns,” the junior said. “So, gotta prove myself (and) prove that I can handle this.” 

Bullock and the Panthers did that during Friday’s frigid Colorado High School Season opener at Tennessee Pass. As temperatures played tag with zero early in the morning — and wind-gusts plunged the real-feel wind-chill well below — Lake County scored 220 points to win the varsity girls competition by 26 points over runner-up Poudre. They were also 35 ahead of Vail Mountain and 42 ahead of defending girls’ state champion Battle Mountain in the regional event.

“I think (training in the cold) does help mentally,” said Brynna Lenhard, who led the Panthers with her third-place finish. Lenhard covered the 2-by-2.5-kilometer skiathlon — wherein athletes completed the first leg in the classic technique before skating the final revolution — in 23:34.

“It’s like, ‘oh I’ve definitely skied in conditions like this before, I can do it now.”

Aimee Lenhard (24:42) rounded out the Panther’s scoring in sixth place, just 23 seconds back from Bullock. Summit cross-country and track star Ella Hagen — who finished third in both the classic and skate state championship races last year — took the overall crown in 22:18.

“It was super challenging conditions but that made it fun,” the 4A cross-country runner-up said before adding that she relished the chance to emulate the World Cup skiers she regularly watches by completing a skiathlon.

“You don’t get a race like this very often. It’s cool to partake in something similar to those events.” 

With cold, fresh flakes covering the narrow, tree-lined course, even the flattest sections of Larry’s Loop were starchy and slow. Hagen said she knew the abrasive crystals could offer her an aerobic advantage.

“I was getting advice from the boys beforehand and they said there’s nowhere to rest out there because of the conditions. And for me, it’s just like, ‘ok, all the better,’” she said. 

“You just have to be ready to grit your teeth.”

Vail Mountain freshman Isla Elton (22:47) pursued Hagen right up until the end to finish second. Despite the cold, she offered proof that things weren’t that bad in the trees. Instead of skiing through the finish line, she turned to head out for another lap before officials guided her back on course. 

“It was so cold,” the freshman admitted with an extended exhale. 

“…but good.” 

As she traveled over Vail and Fremont Pass, Elton said she didn’t think about racing in the cold temperatures. She waited until the last second to get her mind in the right competitive space. 

“I kind of didn’t think about it until I was there (at the start),” she said. 

“Since it’s the first race, I just wanted to see what it’s going to be like for the rest of the season.” 

Summit took the individual and team win on the boys side. Defending state champion James Sowers finished in 17:51, over a minute ahead of runner-up Cade Shortridge of Poudre. The Tigers scored 218 points as Eagle Valley (185) and Poudre (184) battled for the podium’s remaining steps. Lake County (174) finished in fourth.

“The snow was just super slow,” said Josiah Horning (20:12), who led the Panthers in sixth. “You’re just going hard and it’s like no feedback.” Horning had reason to feel extra angsty about the snow. The senior is fresh off of four days racing at the U.S. national cross-country championships on Soldier Hollow’s super slick manmade snow. 

“That snow was great, so fast,” he said. “I’m still pretty sore from nationals, so my body’s not quite in a great racing place.”

Jaren Peters (21:15) finished in 17th and Matt Quinn (21:57) finished 24th as the final Panther scorer. 

“Oh man, it was really hard. I definitely went out really hard on the classic leg,” Peters said. “I came around and I switched to my skate skis and it was already like I’d finished a race and then I had to go do another one.”

Peters’ younger brother Jude (22:10) finished 27th in his first high school race. He admitted to employing the same aggressive strategy as his older brother. “It did not feel great,” he said. The freshman still has ambitious goals for the year. 

“Try to make it to state and just do the best I can,” he said. 

Jaren Peters said his motivation for pushing through the pain was to have a good story to tell his basketball teammates at the game later that evening. 

“They are going to ask me how my race went,” he said. “And it would be better if I could say higher places.” 

Lake County will kick and glide into its first state qualifier Jan. 20 in Steamboat Springs, also the site of the CHSSL sprint championships on Feb. 17. All tips are pointed towards the CHSAA state ski championships Feb. 22-23 at Snow Mountain Ranch.  

The title topic is a good segway back to reputation. And expectations.

Sure, the Panthers heat up when the temps drop and ski beautifully when the weather is ugly. Additionally, thanks to a recent slew of state champions and junior national qualifiers — Rose and Adele Horning and Ella Bullock and Jace Peters last year to name a few — Karl Remsen’s program has also become known as the team that shows up when it counts. 

Bullock and Lenhard hope to continue the tradition in a month or so.

“I want to be able to place well at state,” Bullock said before adding she hopes the same for the whole squad.

“My goals for myself are to get to the state meet and perform really well,” Lenhard reiterated. “And I want that for my whole team. I want everyone to qualify in at least one race and be able to experience it together.”

As for the truth behind Friday’s race? Turns out even Leadville kids aren’t immune to the cold.

“It was freezing,” laughed Lenhard before Bullock added a final description. 

“Toes are icicles.”