HOUGHTON, Mich. – Pat Madden of Bend placed eighth, the best finish among Central Oregon skiers Friday at the 2006 Junior Olympic Nordic Championships.

Madden posted a time of 14 minutes, 2.9 seconds in the 5-kilometer freestyle in a field of 71 boys ages 14 to 15. Madden also claimed eighth in Wednesday’s 5K classic.

The Junior Olympics competition is the national championship for skiers ages 14 to 19 and draws more than 400 skiers from nine regional divisions across the country.

The Mount Bachelor Sports Education Foundation, based in Bend, sent 13 junior cross-country racers to the 2006 championships.

Isabel Smith of Bend took 16th in the 5K freestyle race for girls ages 14 to 15 with a time of 16:01.9, an improvement over her 20th-place finish in the 5K classic on Wednesday.

In the 10K freestyle race for boys ages 16 to 17, Tom Smith of Bend placed 19th out of 93 competitors in 28:20.

Other top-20 finishers from Bend were Charlie Smith, who finished 10th in 28:04.5 in the 10K freestyle for boys ages 18 to 19, and Dakota Blackhorse von Jess, who finished 14th in 28:43.7 in the same race. Charlie Smith placed fourth in Wednesday’s 15K classic, and Blackhorse von Jess was 12th in Wednesday’s 10K classic and first in Monday’s sprint.

”It was another good, solid day of skiing, with many skiers in the top 10 and top 20,” said MBSEF coach Ben Husaby from Michigan on Friday. ”We didn’t see any winners today, but we’re happy with how we did.”

Husaby added that although weather conditions at Michigan Tech Trails have been warm, the snow has been stable and only slightly soft.

The Junior Olympics competition continues today with 3-x-3 and 3-x-5 team relay races. Husaby said he expects that Central Oregon racers will be medal contenders in today’s relays.

For more information and complete results from the competition, visit www.2006juniorolympics.org.