Mt Itasca, Coleraine, MN
Monday, Dec 29, 2014
12.29.2014 Youth-Junior WCH Trials Pursuit RESULTS
The World Junior Biathlon Trials continued today with the Pursuit format, 10km and four shooting stages for both men and women. Mt Itasca trails were in perfect conditions, with a hard fast track, and rock solid climbs. On the shooting side, dropping temperatures in the single digits made accurate shooting difficult with cold fingers a common problem. In the Youth Women’s category, Chloe Levins of Mt Top Nordic (Rutland, VT) again took first place, but only by 4 seconds over Siena Ellingson, Mt Itasca/LNR, with both shooting 4 penalties. Ellingson had a big lead, but left with 3 penalties in her last standing stage, narrowly missing out on first place. Amanda Kautzer, LNR, was third with 8 penalties, keeping in striking range of the Jr World Team selection. Michaela Paluszek of Maine Winter Sports Center was the the only Junior entry, but made a big improvement over Day 1, and finished 1st overall, 3 seconds ahead of Levins. Other Minnesotans racing in the Youth Women’s category were Maria Schoening 10th, Emma Stertz 12th, Rachel Peterson 13th, and Lucia Wiland in 15th.
In the Junior Men’s competition, Brian Halligan, MWSC, again took first place with 7 penalties, but only by 9 seconds over Jakob Ellingson, Mt Itasca/LNR with 6 penalties. Gerrit Garberich, Nisswa NW, made a nice improvement from Day 1 and finished 3rd, also with 6 penalties. In one of the biggest field Youth fields of recent years, Cam Christiansen of Nisswa NW took first place with the best shooting of the day- 1-0-1-0. He was followed by Paul Everett, Methow Valley Biathlon, with 6 penalties, and Sam Zabell of Auburn Ski Club in third with 4 penalties. Other Minnesotans racing in the Youth Men’s category were Vasek Cervenka 13th, Henry Jarvinen 14th, Lewis White 21st, and Alex Larson in 22nd.
The Junior Trials are supposed to conclude on Tuesday with a 6k/7.5km Sprint Competition. With overnight lows at -14F, and a high of -4F predicted, its unlikely the races will take place on Tuesday, and Team Selection will most likely be made on the basis of two races only.