Shiffrin an easy winner in Eastern JIII JO's

Burke’s Mikaela Shiffrin, the double gold medalist from the recently completed Topolino Games in Italy completely overpowered the women’s slalom field, in the first day of racing at the Eastern J3 Junior Olympics at Sunday River, Maine Saturday (March 13) posting margins of multiple seconds in each run. She wound up an incredible 11.36 seconds ahead of the rest of the field.

The remaining competitors had their own battle. Alita Rogers of Mount Mansfield posted the next fastest time with Sylvie Bertrand of Proctor Academy about three tenths back in third place. Alexandra Skovran from Mount Southington finished fourth and Kelly Anne Dinapoli, Holderness, fifth.

In the men’s competition Hunter Lord of Burke Mountain Academy claimed the first race of the Eastern JIII Jr Olympics at Sunday River , Maine, Saturday edging Kyle Burcin of Killington Mountain School by nine-hundredths for the slalom win.

Lord overtook Burcin in the second run with the fastest run of the afternoon. Burcin, the first run winner, was three tenths out in the second run and that spelled the difference. Jack Auty of Burke used two steady and fast runs to claim third. Peter Martens of the National Sports Academy at Lake Placid was fourth and Kieran Mottau, Stratton Mountain School, was fifth.

Burke’s Mikaela Shiffrin, the double gold medalist from the recently completed Topolino Games in Italy completely overpowered the women’s slalom field, posting margins of multiple seconds in each run. She wound up an incredible 11.36 seconds ahead of the rest of the field.

The remaining competitors had their own battle. Alita Rogers of Mount Mansfield posted the next fastest time with Sylvie Bertrand of Proctor Academy about three tenths back in third place. Alexandra Skovran from Mount Southington finished fourth and Kelly Anne Dinapoli, Holderness, fifth.

“We saw some awesome skiing today,” said Alex Krebs, USSA Eastern Youth Competition and Development Manager. “Every athlete showed that they belong here at this TD Bank event and really gave it everything they had through the 53 and 52 gate courses.  The race crew, led by ski race veteran ‘Bear’ Bryant did an incredible job to prepare the hill for these events and they showed why Sunday River is one of the premier race venues in the country.”

Giant Slalom races Sunday were called after the first run due to rain. Shiffrin and Aaron Taylor hold first run leads.

Photo of Dakota Thompson