Tumble by Hayman cancels anticipated fight to the finish with North Bay rival
By BILL MONTAGUE, The Sault Star, Feb 12, 2001

In the end, Emily Hayman was left to wonder what would have happened if she hadn't crossed her ski tips and tumbled down a hill near the end of the junior women's 10-kilometre freestyle race Sunday morning. The 18-year-old Hayman fought off the brisk cold and was in the lead with one kilometre to go when she fell and sustained a mild separation of her shoulder during action at an Ontario Cup cross-country ski competition at Hiawatha Lodge.

The fall occurred while Hayman was battling North Bay's Andrea Nighbor for the lead and it allowed Nighbor to pass her and finish first in a time of 29 minutes and 57 seconds. Hayman, up from the fall, finished second in 30:09.9 seconds.

``I just crossed my ski tips and wiped out,'' said Hayman, who also finished second in Saturday's five-kilometre classic. ``It was stupid but things like that happen, especially when you're tired and not concentrating.''

Sault Ste. Marie's Helen Lindfors also turned in a solid performance, winning the masters women's (30-39-) classic Saturday and the 10-kilometre freestyle race Sunday.

The two-day event featured several of Ontario's top up-and-coming skiers, many of whom had to battle the elements of mother nature en route to the finish line.

Sault Ste. Marie's Victoria Koskenoja, who turned in a stellar third-place performance in the juvenile girls (14-15) 7.5-kilometre freestyle Sunday, said the weather was an obstacle.

``It was horrible,'' she said. ``I felt like I was on fire because it was so cold. I was almost crying and you could feel the frostbite set in, especially once you stopped moving.''

Koskenoja, who finished in a time of 24:26.6 seconds, is emerging as one of Sault Ste. Marie's best young prospects. She returned to the sport this year after a two-year layoff and is enthused about her successes.

``I skied for about seven years when I was younger but I stopped for two years because I wasn't enjoying it any more,'' Koskenoja said. ``I started cross-country running and I realized I should ski to stay in shape for that.''

Koskenoja, 14, competed at the Northern Ontario Secondary Schools Association cross-country championships in the fall and finished first in the midget girls division.

She credits her ascent to her coaches, Dennis Paradime and Mike Keating. Both have worked with her on her technique and the improvement has been dramatic. Aside from her performance Sunday, Koskenoja also finished third in Saturday's five-kilometre classic.

``I was doing OK at the beginning of the year but I didn't have much technique,'' Koskenoja said. ``I'm doing a lot better now. I'm actually shocked at how well I'm doing right now.''

The Hayman/Nighbor showdown was a battle between two of Ontario's top juvenile skiers. On Saturday, Nighbor edged Hayman in the five-kilometre classic, finishing in 15:54.3 compared to Hayman's 16:02.1.

``There's two of them (Nighbors),'' Hayman said. `` She's got a sister named Kim and every other year I get one of them. Last year I raced againstKim but she's moved up in age and this year I've got Andrea.''

Both Hayman and Nighbor qualified for the national championships in Val Cartier, Que., at the end of March and both stand a chance of making the national team at their age. But Hayman knows finishing among the top four at nationals will be difficult but she also thinks she can do it.

``I'm focusing on trying to make the Canadian junior team,'' said Hayman. ``The top four or five at nationals qualify and I think I have a shot.''

Other finishes for area skiers included Sarah Hayman (fourth in juvenile girls classic), Mikelle Menard, Laura Mears and Heather Gordon (third, fourth and fifth, respectively, in girls 12-13-year-old five-kilometre freestyle and the four-kilometre classic), Rick Francis (fourth in masters men 30-39-year-old 15-kilometre freestyle and 10-kilometre classic), Eric Piscopo (second in masters men 40-49 15-kilometre freestyle and third in 10-kilometre classic), and Teno Tikka (second in masters men 60-and-over 10-kilometre freestyle and third in 10-kilometre classic).