Domestic Roundup: March 1, 2005

Domestic Roundup: March 1, 2005Starting at the top of the junior ladder, we saw a reasonably successful World Junior Championship performance from our U.S. athletes. Anytime you get two combined medals at a world event – gold from Tim Jitloff and silver from Resi Stiegler – you should figure the program is developing solid all-around talent.

Jitloff was in the top 10 in three races (6th SL, 7th GS and 10th DH) which bodes well for his future in the sport. Stiegler bounced from the World Cup to Junior Worlds and back again, finishing off with an 8th in the only Women’s World Cup combined of the season on the 2006 Olympic trails at San Sicario. At Juniors she was 15th in DH, 4th in SL and 9th in GS.

Men’s DH proved the highlight of Worlds for the U.S. team as Chris Beckmann pulled in the silver and Erik Fisher the bronze. Drew Roberts posted 5th in men’s slalom. Caitlin Ciccone, Chelsea Marshall and Mitt Coats each tallied top 15 results. Although not at record setting levels, the squad well represented the U.S. Best shot at finishing results is the FIS website . Choose “alpine” in the sector and “FIS Junior Worlds” under category.

They only got in one of the two Europa Cups scheduled in La Molina, Spain and we have to believe Jessica Kelley and Lauren Ross would have liked to see both. Kelley was second to Ana Jelusic, by less than two tenths and Ross finished sixth in a solid field. Kelley backed that result up as the Europa Cup moved to Passo Tonale, Italy opening that series with a sixth in GS against an even stronger field. Kristen Mielke was 12th in that contest.

In no particular order we notice Sarah Strommen with a couple of kick ass results in Central – Region II at LaCrosse. … Hans Tiefenthaler and Alex Acosta got men’s wins. Check here for results

Eric Behan and Kevin Fisher among guys, Jennifer VanWagner and Lyndee Janowiak snagged wins on the Kingdom Come trail at Schuss Mnt. For results, try this site.

In New York’s Empire Games competition, Tania Ripnick put a world of hurt on the slalom field winning by well over three seconds. Ethan Weibrecht got the men’s win. Ripnick’s GS win was just under two seconds. Weibrecht’s margin was about half that.

But in SG Ripnick could manage no better than third as the win went to Lauren Berry. Weibrecht continued his streak with a third win in the full second margin range. For results, see NYSEF racing.

In Vermont results include JII Easterns from Burke and JIII States from Okemo. Brian Morgan and Lindsay Cone took home the Eastern slalom trophies. Check out the results at VARA’s site.

For the remainder of the Trudi Bolinder Memorial series at Snowbird go to the Intermountain site.

We got Grand Prix JO qualifier results from Mammoth and Diamond Peak on the Far West regional site.

And JIII JO qualifiers from Winter Park at Rocky’s site.

We also got Tri-State results from Bousquet at Tri-State Ski Racing.

Our online editor thought junior racers and their parents might be interested in this story by Bill Pennington about young athletes getting injured.

It’s time to win some titles gang. Safe speed.