2nd Annual XTERRA Thompson Lake Race Report

Poland, Maine
By Andrew Marsh

A flood of summer camp memories return as you pass thru the gates of Agassiz Village – host of the 2nd Annual  XTERRA Thompson Lake ORT. They’ve got them all – bunk houses full of giggling kids, canoes ready for splash battles, mosquitoes big as bats, and a herd of camp counselors working hard to wrangle 300+ campers.  Of course there has to be a dining hall filled end to end with long tables and benches, meal time camp songs, and  huge vats of spaghetti or eggs or whatever.  Built in the 30’s, entirely from trees blown down by a hurricane; it is the largest free-standing log structure in the world! Complete with a huge stone fireplace, piano, and a weather vane the magnificent structure alone is worth the trek out to Agassiz Village – just west of Poland, ME.

Thompson Lake - Maine’s deepest and one the nation’s cleanest lakes - is so clear that you see straight bottom.  Used to not being able to see my hand let alone over 80 feet down I’ve realized that swimming in very deep water gives me the willies. Regardless – it’s a beautiful venue for the 71 degree, wetsuit optional, short leg – really, really long leg – short leg configured 1000’ swim course. Race morning a light wind whipped up some small waves and a left to right current. Athletes struggled from the gun to make the first buoy – but once there they ripped across the back of the course as if they had motors. The final turn was a challenge – cutting cross-current back to the sandy beach and cheering crowd.

Spenser Hallowell (19, Bath, ME) didn’t need the current to show everyone that he’s a high caliber swimmer – crushing the field in 0:09:21. Nearly a minute down - second out of the water was Jake Shoberg (Windham, ME) in 0:10:12. Impressive for a 15 year old in his first ORT! On Jake’s heels was Brendan Mins (27, Massapeque, NY) in 0:10:08.

The ladies swim champ was Lindsay Simpson (Waterbury, VT) first to hit the beach in 0:11:29. Chessell McGee (Cumberland, ME) and Kelley Ault (Middlesex, VT) gave Lindsay and each other a minute head start with 0:12:21 and 0:13:43 swim times.

One might wonder if a MTB course with little elevation gain per lap could offer up a challenge worthy of the XTERRA mystique.  It took equal parts mud, roots, rock gardens, open field, single track, historic rock walls, and a wicked quick down/uphill gravel road to prove that you don’t have to have mountains to get yer butt handed to you.  The double 6 mile loop course earned comments like “Wow ! That was fun !” to the “Who’s the *@_% that  set up this @&&@*$ Course!”  Nothing like variety!

Thompson Lake and XTERRA USA Age Group National Champion Matt Boobar (35, Plymouth, NH) came out of the water in seventh place (0:10:56) knowing that he’d have some catching up to do. Little did he know that Matthew Knight (31, Newport, RI) an XTERRA newcomer and apparently his chief rival, was on his shoulder via a 0:10:57 swim. The race was on. – Matt vs Matt.  Boobar almost negative split the two laps with the quickest bike of the day (0:55:45) just over a minute quicker than Knight. Third out of T2 was Ian Sullivan (21, Jericho, VT) a 3 time XTERRA Regional Champion.

Kelly Ault used the quickest ladies bike split of the day (1:14:34) to pass Chessell (1:17:00) and Simpson to take the lead. Jennifer Shultis, racing for AR Team EMS, posted the 3rd best bike split in 1:17:37. A minute each separated the top three women as they left T2.  Coaches called out splits and encouragement - knowing that this was going tight race.

The run, by far the best marked course in all of XPS history, is all XTERRA all the time! Straight out of the gate it was an up slope trip through field that serves as the front yard of most of the camp buildings and cabins. Campers and spectators alike cheered the athletes on until they disappeared into the wooded trails just up from the lake. Typical of New England trails rocks, roots, moss, creeks jumps and logs are the norm this course making it necessary to watch where every foot lands. Highlights included a creek bed washout scramble and a bushwhacking section through a forest of ferns and spruce. A gorgeous setting even when you take header. One athlete noted post race that he tripped – landing hard – but actually bounced when he landed on a bed of springy moss. Surprising no one reported seeing any moose, deer, or turkey that roam Agassiz’s 400 acre property.

Popping out of the woods on the north side of campus Boobar ran the last hundred yards solo – maintaining the title of XTERRA Thompson Lake’s only winner – taking the tape in 1:29:38. Matthew Knight and Ian Sullivan kept their respective positions – Knight 2nd 1:31:26. Sullivan 3rd 1:31:49. Having picked up all but 23 seconds of the 1.5 minute gap to Knight – Ian noted that he simply ran out of run.  Dimitry Drozdox (35, Waltham, MA) crushed the 4 mile run in 20:47 – fastest of the day.

After taking the lead during the bike Kelly Ault never looked back - winning the ladies division in 1:29:38.  Chessell MvGee (1:59:47) cruised to the finish line expecting to take the 1st runner up spot only to be dusted steps out by Lindsay Simpson (1:59:45). Wicked close racing!

Thankfully the weather held off until mire moments after the last athlete finished forcing the awards festivities onto porch that wraps around the lodge. A fitting location as Age Group winners received framed pictures of the lodge with a stunning rainbow above as awards. A free post race lunch was served in the dining hall and a kids ORT ended the day of off-road fun.

Agassiz Village is a special place – one of few fully inclusive camps that invite children from any racial, economic, social, and physically backgrounds to experience the wonders of Maine’s wilderness. When not wearing the Race Director hat Allan Gillis serves as the Operation Manager for Agassiz Village. He and the staff have worked tirelessly to maintain/restore/develop the buildings, grounds, trails, and opportunities that we’re almost lost from years of mismanagement. We invites all to check out the Agassiz Village website www.agassizvillage.org to learn more about the program offered by the non-profit and perhaps make a donation to support their cause. Look for Agassiz Village to expand their lineup of multi-sport events and fundraisers in support of the programs that enable kids to truly Live More!

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