Junior Olympics Come to Donner Summit

Donner Summit, CA – Four hundred of the nation’s best junior cross-country skiers will compete in the 2009 Cross Country Junior Olympic Ski Championships at Auburn Ski Club Training Center March 8 to March 14.

Athletes ages 13 to 19 will compete in a 1k sprint (March 9), classic (March 13), skate (March 11) and team relay (March 14).

Auburn Ski Club is looking for volunteers.

For information contact Leslie at (530) 426-3313 ext.100 by March  3 or visit xcjuniorolympics2009.org

What: USSA Junior Olympic Cross Country Ski Championships
Where: Auburn Ski Club Training Center, Donner Summit
When: March 8-14
Web site: xcjuniorolympics2009.org

Schedule of Events

Sunday March 8
3 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. Opening Ceremonies at Truckee High School with guest speaker, extreme skier and global cooling consultant Alison Gannett

Monday March 9
Freestyle sprint races
9 a.m. – 10:55 a.m. qualification heats
Noon– 2:50 p.m. quarter, semis and finals

Wednesday March 11
9 a.m. – 12:40 p.m. Freestyle races
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Awards Banquet at Alder Creek Middle School

Friday March 13
9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Classic races

Saturday March 14
9 a.m. – 12:55 p.m. team relay races
6:30 p.m. guest speaker Miriam Horn at Truckee High School, open to the public
7 p.m. awards ceremony

Local Athletes to Watch

Joanne Reid
The first year J1 from Palo Alto took home two impressive 7th place finishes (2nd American) at last weekend’s Western Regional Collegiate races. She also has a gold medal from the 2008 JOs. Reid, whose mother (Beth Reid) and uncle (Eric Heiden) has the Olympics in her blood!

Russell Kennedy
The 2008 California/Nevada State Champion, and winner of several JO qualifiers Kennedy is the top cross-country skier in the state.

Bernie Nelson
A 2008 All-American, Nelson has won a handful of JO qualifiers and high school races this year.

Annika Taylor
The 2008 California/Nevada State Champion on the same course as JOs. Taylor is the top J2 qualifier in the state.

Justin Ondry
The top J2 qualifier in the state whose hard work and consistent training should pay off at nationals.