Paul Smith's College Snowshoe Team Again Wins International Snowshoe Championships in Longueuil, Quebec
Paced by wins in all three relays, the Paul Smith's College Snowshoe Team dominated the race walk events in the morning, followed by the sprints and middle distance races in the afternoon to defend their International Snowshoe Championship title.
2019 International Snowshoe Championships
Longueuil, Quebec
26 January 2019
Paul Smith's College Race Results
Fifteen members of the Paul Smith's College snowshoe team took part in the 112th edition of the International Snowshoe Championships held in Longueuil, Quebec this past weekend and returned with their twelfth consecutive championship team win.
Many of the local collegiate runners ran 7 – 9 events through the day, beginning with the race walk. The men cover an 8K (just under five miles) while the women perform a 1,500 meter race walk. Matt Frye (JR) and Lauren Brieant (grad) had the top overall times of the day in the walk, with Frye completing the 8K event in 44 minutes 33 seconds. Brieant won the 1.5K walk in 9:43, followed by Margret Montag (SO) in 9:52.
Paul Smith's won all three 400 meter relays, with Margret Montag, Nicholas Ferrara, Lenore Marcuson and Cody Sears teaming to win the mixed relay in 1:02. Margret Montag, Kayleen Snyder, Lauren Brieant, and Julie Capito won the women's relay in 1:09, while Thomas Firkins, Jack Virbickas, James Neary and Cody Sears won the men's relay in 52:00. Paul Smith's College also placed second in the men's relay with Isaac Leach, Patrick Mullen Mechtly, Matthew Frye and Griffin Williams collaborating to finish in 54:00.
Lauren Brieant took home the honors as the top Senior Woman Athlete of the Day, and through her consistent performances throughout the day, she also was crowned the top Female Athlete of the Day, and overall athlete of the International Championships.
Matt Frye again won the Senior Men's title, and Men's Athlete of the Day, while Margret Montag won the Junior Women's title for the second year in a row. First year competitor Griffin Williams (SO) won the Junior Men's Title.
The convention is an annual tradition, bringing back the French Canadian roots of the logging industry from the communities based in Quebec, Ontario and Northern New England. Decades ago, several dozen snowshoe clubs would rendezvous for the annual convention, traveling by train to the destination and celebrate their rich culture of music, dancing, and snowshoeing in this mid-winter festival. There would be thousands attending the annual convention, sharing memories, traditions, and enjoying the races and festivities. Sadly, the traditions are dying and these fraternal clubs are no longer attracting members to their organizations.
Next up for the Paul Smith's College snowshoe team is both the Empire State Games snowshoe races at the Paul Smith's College campus on Saturday, February 2nd.
Saranac Lake and Paul Smith's VIC will be hosting the 2019 Adirondack Snowshoe Festival on February 23rd and 24th.
Paul Smith's College team host the Empire State Games snowshoe races on Saturday, with the 100, 400 and 800 meter sprints at the soccer field in the morning, and then the 5K at the College's VIC in the afternoon. Racing will begin at 10AM at the soccer field, and the 5K will commence at 2 PM.
Jim Tucker, Athletic Director and Snowshoe Team Coach
The following is the complete Paul Smith's College results
8Km Walk ~ Men
Senior Men
- Matthew Frye 44:33
- Isaac Leach 49:18
- Patrick Mullen Mechtly 50:24
- Thomas Firkiins 55:26
- Cody Sears 57:42
- James Neary 58:10
Junior Men
- Griffin Williams 52:10
- Nicholas Ferrara 55:26
- Jack Virbickas 57:46
1,500 Meter Walk ~ Women
Senior Women
- Lauren Brieant 9:43
- Kayleen Snyder 10:16
- Lenore Marcuson 10:18
Junior Women
- Margret Montag 9:52
- Julie Capito 10:14
400 Meter Mixed Relay
- Margret Montag Paul Smith's College 1:02 (1st Place)
- Nicholas Ferrara Paul Smith's College
- Lenore Marcuson Paul Smith's College
- Cody Sears Paul Smith's College
Presidents Walk
- Henry Major Les Actifs
- Jim Tucker Paul Smith's College
- Michel Martin Le Marquette
400 Meter Women's Relay
- Margret Montag Paul Smith's College 1:09 (1st Place)
- Lauren Brieant Paul Smith's College
- Kayleen Sndyer Paul Smith's College
- Julie Capito Paul Smith's College
400 Meter Men's Relay
- Thomas Firkins Paul Smith's College :52 (1st Place)
- Jack Virbickas Paul Smith's College
- James Neary Paul Smith's College
- Cody Sears Paul Smith's College
- Isaac Leach Paul Smith's College :54 (2nd Place)
- Patrick Mullen Mechtly Paul Smith's College
- Matthew Frye Paul Smith's College
- Griffin Williams Paul Smith's College
50 Meters ~ Women
Junior A (age 15 – 19)
- Margret Montag Paul Smith's College 10.00
- Julie Capitio Paul Smith's College 12.00
Senior Women
- Kayleen Snyder Paul Smith's College 10:00
- Lauren Brieant Paul Smith's College 10.3
- Lenore Marcuson Paul Smith's College 12.0
800 Meters – Men (open event)
- Nicholas Ferrara Paul Smith's College 2:16
- Matthew Frye Paul Smith's College 2:20
- Isaac Leach Paul Smith's College 2:24
- Patrick Mullen Mechtly Paul Smith's College 2:29
- Griffin Williams Paul Smith's College 2:35
- Jack Virbickas Paul Smith's College 2:44
- Thomas Firkins Paul Smith's College 2:50
- Cody Sears Paul Smith's College 2:55
800 Meters – Women (open event)
- Margret Montag Paul Smith's College 3:14
- Lauren Brienat Paul Smith's College 3:30
- Kayleen Snyder Paul Smith's College 3:52
- Julie Capito Paul Smith's College 4:03
100 Meters – Junior Men
- Nicholas Ferrara Paul Smith's College 16:00
- Jack Virbickas Paul Smith's College 17.00
100 Meters – Senior Men
- Thomas Firkins Paul Smith's College 16.54
- Matthew Frye Paul Smith's College 16.57
- Cody Sears Paul Smith's College 17.07
- James Neary Paul Smith's College 18.10
- Isaac Leach Paul Smith's College 18.50
- Meters – Junior Women
- Margret Montag Paul Smith's College 23.00
3. Julie Capito Paul Smith's College 31.00
100 Meters – Senior Women
- Lauren Brieant Paul Smith's College 23.00
- Lenore Marcuson Paul Smith's College 26.00
- Kayleen Snyder Paul Smith's College 27.00
1,500 Meters – Men (open event)
- Matthew Frye Paul Smith's College 5:21
- Isaac Leach Paul Smith's College 5:22
- Griffin Williams Paul Smith's College 5:26
- Patrick Mullen Mechtly Paul Smith's College 5:53
- Jack Virbickas Paul Smith's College 6:02
- Nicholas Ferrara Paul Smith's College 6:07
- Cody Sears Paul Smith's College 7:20
1,500 Meters – Women (open event)
- Margret Montag Paul Smith's College 7:42
- Lauren Brieant Paul Smith's College 8:22
- Lenore Marcuson Paul Smith's College 10:47
Julie Capito Paul Smith's College 10:47
Kayleen Snyder Paul Smith's College 10:47
200 Meters – Junior Men
- Griffin Williams Paul Smith's College 23:00
- Nicholas Ferrara Paul Smith's College 24.00
- Jack Virbickas Paul Smith's College 26.00
200 Meters – Senior Men
- Matt Frye Paul Smith's College 24.00
- Thomas Firkins Paul Smith's College 25.00
- Patrick Mullen Mechtly Paul Smith's College 26.00
- James Neary Paul Smith's College 27.00
Isaac Leach Paul Smith's College 27.00
6. Cody Sears Paul Smith's College 31.00
200 Meters – Junior Women
- Margret Montag Paul Smith's College 30.00
3. Julie Capito Paul Smith's College 40.00
200 Meters – Senior Women
- Lauren Brieant Paul Smith's College 35.00
- Kayleen Snyder Paul Smith's College 38.00
3. Lenore Marcuson Paul Smith's College 40.0
400 Meters – Junior Men
- Griffin Williams Paul Smith's College 1:00
- Nicholas Ferrara Paul Smith's College 1:08
- Jack Virbickas Paul Smith's College 1:16
400 Meters – Senior Men
- Matthew Frye Paul Smith's College 1:06
- Isaac Leach Paul Smith's College 1:10
- Patrick Mullen Mechtly Paul Smith's College 1:12
- Cody Sears Paul Smith's College 1:18
400 Meters – Women (Open Event)
- Margret Montag Paul Smith's College 1:23
2. Lauren Brieant Paul Smith's College 1:35
3. Lenore Marcuson Paul Smith's College 1:55
3,000 Meters – Men (Open Event)
- Isaac Leach Paul Smith's College 12:30
- Jack Virbickas Paul Smith's College 12:41
- James Neary Paul Smith's College 13:19