The University of Toronto Varsity Blues nordic ski team travelled to North Bay, Ont. this weekend (Jan. 17-18) for the first of two Ontario university qualifiers at the North Bay Nordic Ski Club.

The Blues battled cold temperatures to post some impressive results throughout the weekend.

Saturday’s events included both the men and women’s classic races. In the 16km men’s event, second-year mechanical engineering student Aaron Barter (Almonte, Ont.) was the Blues top finisher in eighth place with a time of 54:29.7. Thunder Bay, Ont. native Todd Inkila was not far behind with a 10th place finish in 54:45.5.

In the women's 10km classic race, Erin Mallinger (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.) led the way for Toronto, just missing the top 10 with an 11th place finish in a time of 39:32.5.

On Sunday, Barter again led the Blues on the men’s side, finishing 12th in the men’s 10km skate event in 31:39.5.

Similarly, Mallinger was the top finisher for the Blues on the women’s side. She finished 18th with a time of 19:27.7 in the women’s 5km skate event.

The Varsity Blues return to action when they travel to Sudbury, Ont., February 7-8, for the second Ontario university qualifier hosted by Laurentian University.