We now spotlight senior Kayely Bell of Caribou. She won the 2023 Class B Classical, Freestyle, and Pursuit titles. Her freestyle time was the fastest in the state regardless of class. She was also the Aroostook County champion. We asked her about competing in the state meet and what surprised her this season.
1) What were your preparations leading up to the state meet? My preparations leading up to the state meet were to really work on my technique and
just staying focused on the upcoming races.
2) How did you deal with the pressure and emotions that come along with competing in a state meet? Having the state meet in Fort Kent was really comforting knowing that I had raced on the course before. I was just so excited to see all of my friends from other teams and compete against some amazing racers.
3) What was going through your mind at the start? At the start, I was thinking about how much I enjoyed the course and how much fun it was going to be.
4) What do you contribute your success to? I contribute my success to working really hard all season long. I also know that summer training was a big part of getting me ready for the state meet. I added more roller skiing to my regular summer training and continued to roller ski during my cross-country season.
5) What are your goals/plans for next year?
Next year, I will be attending Saint Michael’s College in Colchester, Vermont. I am going to be part of both the Cross Country and Nordic Ski Teams.
6) What surprised you the most about this season? Last year, the weather on the first day of the state meet was so warm, and this year the temperatures were in the single digits on the second day of competition. The weather is always full of surprises!
7) What moment/event will you remember the most from the season? The moment that I will remember the most about this season was the night race held in Caribou. It was my birthday and senior night and everyone made it so special for me.
8) What do you like most about Nordic Skiing? I like the feeling of being on skis and being outside.
9) Anything else that you would like to add? I would like to thank my coach and parents for all of their support this year. I would also like to thank my sister and teammates for making this year so fun!