Marshall Helmberger
ELY— Senior Jasper Johnston and sophomore Zoe Devine each blew away their respective competition during the Ely Skiathlon, held last Thursday at Hidden Valley.
Devine had strong support from teammates Phoebe Helm, Ava Skustad, and Julia Schwinghamer as the girls racked up 391 points to take first in the team competition against Carlton-Esko-Cromwell and Two Harbors. C-E-C was second with 381 points.
The boys were edged by C-E-C, 386-384.
Johnston, who had missed some earlier meets as he competed in Midwest regional competition, was in usual form during the combined freestyle and classic competition in Ely on Jan. 28, finishing the course in just 20:15, a full minute and 36 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher, Benjamin Bauer, of C-E-C. Ely junior Gabe Pointer finished in 21:57, just six seconds behind Bauer and nearly two minutes ahead of the fourth-place finisher.