Eliot Soderholm and Chloe Freund pace the field in the 31st Annual Jingle Bell 5K Snowshoe Race

31^st Annual Jingle Bell 5K Snowshoe Race

Paul Smith's College VIC

December 6, 2025 

Paul Smith's College students Eliot Soderholm and Chloe Freund started the snowshoe racing season much as they left the fall cross country season, at the top of their game.  Eliot raced the Jingle Bell 5K snowshoe race course at the Paul Smith's College VIC in a blistering time of 18:17, with about 40% of the course ungroomed single track, making for less than ideal footing.  

This is not unusual for a snowshoe race, but this is not conducive for exceptional race times. Eliot's training and preparation for the upcoming National and World Championships are really coming together, and this exceptional performance is a solid indication of the work he has put forth.  Single track is awesome for developing strength and conditioning for upcoming major events, and this was the rationale for leaving so much of the Jingle Bell course ungroomed as an early season race. 

Matt Mederios of Saranac, NY placed second in 24:12, followed by Bryce Shannon and Matt Matis of Paul Smith's College in 24:59 and 25:30 respectively.  Matt Westerlund of Lacona, NY rounded out the top five with a time of 26:58.  

Chloe Freund began her second season on snowshoes with a win in the women's 5K with a time of 37:20, followed closely by teammate, Morgan Cheney in 37:26. Cheney is new to snowshoe racing, as a standout Timbersports competitor who transferred into Paul Smith's from Finger Lakes Community College in the fall.  Cheney was the top finisher for Paul Smith's at USCAA Nationals in cross country, after a lengthy recovery from a nagging injury through much of the fall season.  

Derek Gillard of Cornwall, Ontario and Marissa Rousseau of Finch, Ontario enjoyed their first trek to the Paul Smith's College VIC during the winter snowshoe season, with Derek placing 6^th in 30:05, and Marissa placing third in 41:33 for the women.  

The early season Jingle Bell 5K featured 19 athletes, which is similar to or slightly more than  past seasons.  We have found that as an early season, most winter running enthusiasts have not had enough snow to warrant getting out the snowshoes when we host this event, but due to the end of the fall semester and final exams, these academic realities dictate the date of the Jingle Bell take place before the students depart the North Country.  In the 31 years, we have been holding this event, it seems we have enjoyed sufficient snow cover about 60% of the time, while the other years, we have held this event as a late season trail run.  

Those who made the trek to the VIC from away from the college were quite impressed by the snow covered trails and enjoyed running through the woodlands.  The students will be departing the college later this week as they finish up their fall semester, and then gather up as they depart for the US Snowshoe Nationals and World Championships in Brillion, Wisconsin next week.

Finish Order ~ by place

Finish Order – By Gender

Finish Order by Age Category and Gender