New England Dominates Junior National Sprints

FasterSkier · March 7, 2005

New England Wins 4 out of 6 Junior National Titles on Day 1 of the Junior Nationals in Truckee, CA.

Sophie Caldwell from Stratton Mountain School became the first national champion of the 2005 Junior Olympics by winning the J2 class. Sadie Bjornsen (Methow Valley Nordic) was second and Kate Dolan (Bridger Ski Foundation) was third.

Alex Howe (Gunstock Nordic) won the J2 boys class, ahead of Patrick Johnson (Alaska WInterStars) and Steven Bedard (Stratton Mtn).

Jennie Bender (Northeast Nordic) gave New England its third national title in as many races by winning the girls J1 sprint. She only finished 15th in qualifying and defeated the first, second, third, and fifth qualifiers on her way to the title. Sarah Armstrong (McCall) was second, and Rosie Brennan (National Sports Foundation) was third.

Hometown boy Matt Gelso (Aubrun Ski Club) finally broke up the New England winning streak by taking the J1 boys title. Simi Hamilton (Aspen) was second and Dylan McGuffin (Gunstock) was third.

Hannah Dreissigacker (Craftsbury) won the qualification round and every heat on the way to her first junior national title. Katrina Howe (Gunstock) was second, and Tiffany Callahan (University of New Mexico) was third.

Tim Damrow (University of Colorado) won the boys OJ, Anders Gillis (Alaska) and Ben Hickory (Craftsbury) rounded out the podium.

Junior Nationals races continue on Wednesday with the freestyle distance races.

RESULTS: http://www.summittiming.com/race_results/2005/jos/jos_2005.htm

Source: Summit Timing and Nensa