Organizers had to put in a little over time to wrap up this year's Don Sumanik Memorial Homecoming Cross Country ski race.

On Saturday, the two-part race series concluded with a freestyle technique competition, held at the Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club.

The final race was held more than one month after it was originally scheduled for. It was postponed on more than one occasion because of cold temperatures.

However, the wait was well worth it for both participants and organizers, who enjoyed near perfect skiing conditions and an optimum temperature of around -4 C.

Saturday drew an approximate total of 40 skiers, including around 15 members of the Yukon Cross Country Ski team.

Among the highlights included were two new names being added to the Don Sumanik Memorial Trophy: Blue squad skiers Knute Johnsgaard and Heidi Brook.

The Don Sumanik Trophy is given to the male and female skier that finish with the fastest combined time over the two races.

Other prizes included ribbons for top three finishers in each category as well as participation.

In what was a close finish, Johnsgaard won the open men's 10-km category, finishing just 34 seconds ahead of Logan Potter. His time was 30.47.

In addition to winning the trophy, Johnsgaard, 16, also took home a $100 cash prize, given by Elsie Sumanik to a young and upcoming skier that shows the most promise.

Jeff Wood placed third with a time of 31:26.

Other open results included 16-year-old Heidi Brook winning the open women's 7.5-km race with at time of 26.28.

"I knew it was two loops, so I tried to pace myself really well and just try and finish really strong," she said about her strategy on Saturday.

Brook, who has been competing in races since she was about 10, said it was special to win the Don Sumanik Trophy.

"I wasn't expecting it all," she said. "I just had a couple good races."

Brook missed a good portion of last season because a back injury, which forced her to miss the 2008 Western Canadian Cross Country Ski Championships. However, she said her injury has healed up thanks in part to easing her way back into the sport.

At the 2009 Westerns, scheduled for the last week of February, Brook hopes to place in the top 10 in the junior category.

"To be in the top 10 would be really exciting, the competition is really hard."

The Don Sumanik races are used to select a team of 12 skiers that will compete at the westerns and nationals, which will be held in Ontario in March.

Alain Masson, the head coach for Cross Country Yukon, said he was pleased with the way his skiers did on Saturday.

"Overall I think it was a good day, some surprises was Knute Johnsgaard doing really well in the open men," he said. "That was nice to see. All of the training he has done in the past few years is starting to pay off."

He said its encouraging how well some of the younger skiers did at the Don Sumanik races.

"It's great for these kids to do well and do well at a young age," he said. "Our goals are always for each skier to try to ski as best as they possibly can. Personal bests is what we look for."

Liam Mather finished in first place in the PeeWee boys 1-km race, while Hannah Jirousek took the top spot in the girls race. Her time was 0:04:21.8, which was 30 seconds faster than Regan Fuerstner, who placed second.

Adam Hynes finished ahead of Sasha Masson to take first place in the atoms mixed event, while Dahria Beatty won the juvenile girls 5-km category.

The midget boys 2.5-km race was won by Trevor Bray and Emily Wilson finished in first place in the midget girls event. Wilson's time of 11:02 was less than 10 seconds faster than second place Moya Painter.

Caelan McLean and Cambria Fuerstner each finished first in the boys and girls MiniMidget 2.5-km categories.

Claude Chabot, Saturday's technical delegate, said it was nice to get another race under their belts.

"This is all part of our lead up to the 2010 nationals that we are hosting," he said.

"As officials we all get rusty. It's just an opportunity to do some racing and refresh our skills and it was fun."