Racing at the Paul Smith’s Visitor Information Center, the Section VII teams closed out the season with the final 7.5-kilometer individual race.

As has been the case all season, the races were hotly contested, with some spots on the NYSPHSAA State Championship team not being decided until today’s final race.

The boys race was determined by a single point, making it the closest finish in years. The Blue Bombers recorded 11 points to Saranac Lake’s 12, and despite a strong finish by the Red Storm on Wednesday, Lake Placid’s win of the team relay on Tuesday night helped secure the sectional title.

Blue Bombers senior standouts Aidan Fay and Colin Francis finished the race in first and second overall, respectively. Fay finished in 23 minutes, 23 seconds, while Francis was 11 seconds behind in 23:34.

The Section VII boys Nordic skiers that will take part in the upcoming state races pose on Wednesday at Paul Smith’s. Pictured from left are Saranac Lake’s Emmett VanBuskirk, Alex Evans, Keaton Daley, Ebin Meissner, Liam Stoddard, Mason Stoddard, Lake Placid’s Trey Mariano, Aidan Fay, Colin Francis and Connor Mannion.(Provided photo)

Six Saranac Lake racers finished behind Fay and Francis, with Ebin Meissner (23:53) leading the way in third and Mason Stoddard (24:06) in fourth.

On the girls side, Saranac Lake secured the win behind Tyler Burth’s first place victory in 26:09. The Red Strom recorded seven points, while Lake Placid had 13 and Keene 41.

Burth’s Red Storm teammates Kaylee Holmes (27:24) placed third and Pepper Laxson (27:38) was fourth. Maya Garrison of Lake Placid finished second in 26:46, and Lelia Fey (27:41) took fifth. Zarela Gulli was Keene’s top finisher, placing 10th in 32:47.

Up next, 18 skiers — and two alternates — from Section VII will represent this region at the NYSPHSAA State Championships on Feb. 24 and 25 at the North Creek Ski Bowl.

The Blue Bomber boys skiers include: Fay, Francis and Trey Mariano. The Red Storm boys that will race at states are Meissner, Mason and Liam Stoddard, Keaton Daley, Alex Evans and Emmett VanBuskirk. Lake Placid’s Connor Mannion was named as an alternate.

The Lake Placid girls will send Garrison, Fey and Holly Erenstone. The Red Storm girls will be represented by Holmes, Laxson, Kelsi and Tyler Burth, Cadence Kennedy and Amelia Evans. Saranac Lake’s Lila Zobel was chosen as the alternate.

Below are the complete results:

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Boys

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Aidan Fay (LP), 23:23; Colin Francis (LP), 23:34; Ebin Meissner (SL), 23:53; Mason Stoddard (SL), 24:06; Alex Evans (SL), 24:45; Liam Stoddard (SL), 24:33; Keaton Daley (SL), 24:43; Emmett VanBuskirk (SL), 25:06; Trey Mariano (LP), 25:28; Ben Ziemann (SL), 25:59; Connor Mannion (LP), 26:31; Parker Scanio (LP), 26:48; Graham Scull (LP), 27:45; Liam Fletcher (SL), 29:19; Jesse Carlson (LP), 29:28; Will Coffin (LP), 29:47; Rocket VanCampen (SL), 31:08; Liam Gotham (LP), 32:02; Nick O’Brien (LP), 32:08; Teddy Rudow (K), 33:27; Jim Guglielmi (LP), 34:26; Asher Murray (LP), 35:40; Porter Dominesey (SL), 37:33; Khubaib Nader (SL), 38:03; Robert Bowen (LP), 41:38; David Wubs (K), 48:46.

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Girls

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Tyler Burth (SL), 26:09; Maya Garrison (LP), 26:46; Kaylee Holmes (SL), 27:24; Pepper Laxson (SL), 27:38; Leila Fey (LP), 27:41; Holly Erenstone (LP), 28:18; Cadence Kennedy (SL), 28:27; Amelia Evans (SL), 32:19; Kelsi Burth (SL), 32:41; Zarela Gulli (K), 32:47; Lila Zobel (SL), 33:14; Lauryn Caldwell (SL), 34:51; Emily Bartiss (SL), 36:13; Rose Wenzler (LP), 39:19; Julia Pickard (SL), 42:04; Lilah Stringer (K), 46:02; Maialen Ayerra (K), 46:02.