LAKE PLACID — The Section VII Nordic ski teams finished up their regular season Thursday at the Scotts Cobble Nordic Center. After battling cold temperatures for much of the season, the teams competed under sunny skies in the Mixed-Relay format of one boy and one girl per team for the first time.

Saranac Lake had a strong day, taking the top three spots in the Varsity race. Pepper Laxson and Mason Stoddard led the way, finishing the combined 6K course in a time of 18 minutes, 57 seconds. Less than a second separated the second-place team of Kaylee Holmes and Liam Stoddard (19:20) from the third place team of Tyler Burth and Keaton Daley (19:21).

Lake Placid’s top team of Leila Fey and Connor Mannion followed closely in fourth, with a time of 19:27. Marie Bullock and Brody Harrell led the way for Keene, placing 14th with a time of 25:53.

“Thank you to Scotts Cobble and the Delaney family for hosting us today, and thanks also to Mike Battisti for getting the course in such great shape for us,” Saranac Lake Nordic coach Keith Kogut said in a statement. “It’s been a great season of racing, and we feel confident about our skiers heading into state championships. It will be fun to see what they can do against the other top skiers in New York State.”

The local Nordic representatives for the NYSPHSAA State Championship meet will be chosen next week, as the teams compete in two days of Sectional Championships. The first sectional race will kickoff at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday evening with the three-person Classic Technique relay under the lights at Dewey Mountain. The skiers will then compete in the Skate Technique distance championship at 4 p.m. on Thursday at the Paul Smiths College VIC.