[XC] Ben Cline snags Gold!

[Don Fariss]

Ben Cline National Champion !!!   Monday, March 4th, Ben competed at the Junior Olympics (Jr. Nat'ls) competition in McCall, Idaho as part of the Midwest team against 16 & 17 year old skiers (J1 age class) from New England, Alaska, Mid-Atlantic, Great Lakes, the Rockies, the Northwest and California. After four heats in the 1 kilometer Sprint distance, HE CAME OUT ON TOP WITH THE GOLD MEDAL! He also beat all but 3 boys in the next older age class. The 3 edged him by less than a second in the final.   Ben is the first J1 National Champion from Wisconsin since Minocqua's Kurt Wulff in 1992.   On Wednesday, Ben will compete in a 15 km. classical race, on Friday a 10 km. freestyle race and the team relay on Saturday. He hopes to prove he is more than a Sprint specialist (a label he has recently - mistakenly - acquired).   Ski ya, Don