The Mound Westonka Nordic ski team returned to Elm Creek Park Preserve Dec. 8 to compete in a 5k skate race. Eight schools and 186 varsity skiers skied the first 5k race of the season in mild conditions.

Continued improvement was the theme for the White Hawks, as junior co-captain Averie Zealley finished 16th overall, and first for the White Hawks girls team, with a time of 16:40. Sophomore Stella Miner and ninth-grader Nora Hughes finished second and third, respectively, with times of 20:27 and 21:30.

Sophomore Isaac Hays led the White Hawks boys on the hard-packed snow with a 17th overall finish and a time of 15:09. Sophomore Miles Lund and ninth-grader Liam Zealley followed closely behind with times of 15:09 and 15:28, respectively.

Team coaches Sue Harrison and Jim Miner commented that promising performances by underclassmen were particularly encouraging for the future.