Poles win ski titles

The Merino Muster field streams away from the Snow Farm base building at the start on Saturday....
The Merino Muster field streams away from the Snow Farm base building at the start on Saturday. Photos by Lucy Ibbotson.
Some of the world's best cross-country skiers converged on the Snow Farm near Wanaka on Saturday for the annual Merino Muster, Polish skiers winning both the men's and women's titles.

More than 160 people entered the event across three race distances - the 42km Merino Muster main event, the 21km Snow Rake and 7km Straggle Muster.

Members of the Maluschnig family, (from left) Liz, husband Steve and their daughter Ella (12),...
Members of the Maluschnig family, (from left) Liz, husband Steve and their daughter Ella (12), prepare for the race.
There was also a Mini Merinos 200m race for the youngest competitors.

In the men's 42km race, Maciej Kreczmer, of Poland, won in a time of 1hr 38min 41sec, just ahead of Russia's Andzey Smolyanin and Canada's Brian McKeever.

In the women's long-distance event, world champion and Winter Olympic gold medallist Justyna Kowalczyk, of Poland, won in 1hr 40min 59sec, ahead of Slovakia's Anastasiya Kuzima and Japan's Shoka Ota in third.

The field included three members of the Maluschnig family, of Hawea Flat, which has been represented in the race for the past 14 years.

Liz and Steve and their daughter Ella (12) raced on Saturday.

 

 

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