Hi Everyone,

This morning saw the beginning of the Open European Junior Championships in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic. The fields were bigger than in Slovenia—but some of the same names were near the top. Snow conditions looked good.

In the early 12.5 km Individual race, the US Women suffered from mediocre shooting in the race most often thought of as a ‘shooter’s race’ because of the huge 1 min penalty assigned for each miss. Chloe Levins, joining the US women, was in 70th shooting 1,1,2,1, and finishing 8:46 behind the German winner, Weidle who shot clean—0,0,0,0. So 3:46 behind in ski time. Siena Ellingson, was 75th shooting 1,2,2,1 and 9:38 back and Amanda Kautzer was 80th, shooting 2,1,1,2 and 11:15 behind. 99 women started.

In the Men’s 15 km Individual, Vasek Cervenka put together a great race for a Youth skiing up to the Junior level, finishing 27th, shooting 0,0,1,0 and finishing 4:44 behind the Russian winner who shot clean. Travis Cooper finished 68th, shooting 1,2,1,1 and finishing 8:50 back; Cam Christiansen was 75th, shooting 2,1,1,1 and finishing 10:40 back; followed by Cody Johnson, in 99th place, shooting 0,3,2,1 and finishing 16:13 back. 114 Men started.

On Saturday, there will be a Sprint race for all, followed on Sunday, a Pursuit race for the top 60 from the Sprint race.

Meanwhile, tomorrow am 4 US Men and 2 US women will do an IBU Cup sprint race in Slovakia, west of the Nove Mesto venue. Jakob Ellingson will be skiing in that race.

More later,
Bill Meyer