The U.S. Junior/Youth World Championship Trials took place Dec. 28-29 in Coleraine, Minnesota, with men’s and women’s sprint races both days, according to a US Biathlon press release. From those two-day trials, cut short due to frigid forecasts on Dec. 30-31, the IBU Youth and Junior World Championships team was named. This year’s championships are Feb. 26-March 4 in Otepää, Estonia.
The teams named Dec. 30 are as follows:
Female Junior World Championship Team
- Chloe Levins (Rutland, Vt./VT Biathlon/Mountain Top Nordic Ski Club) – pre qualified from last season and IBU Cup Team
- Amanda Kautzer (Plymouth, Minn./Loppet Nordic Racing/Michigan)
- Lucy Hochshartner (Casper Mtn. Biathlon)
- Nina Armstrong (Lake Placid, N.Y./Harvard College)
Female Youth World Championship Team
- Helen Wilson (Eagle River, Alaska/Alaska Biathlon)
- Grace Gilliland (Eagle River, Alaska/Alaska Biathlon)
- Lexie Madigan (Truckee, Calif./Auburn Ski Club)
- Emma Stertz (Grand Rapids, Minn./Mt. Itasca)
Male Junior World Championship Team
- Cody Johnson (Fort Kent, Maine/Outdoor Sports Institute)
- Jake Pearson (Casper, Wyo./Casper Mountain Biathlon Club)
- Tim Cunningham (New Hampshire/St. Laurence Univ.)
- Cam Christiansen (Pequot Lake, Minn./NNW)
Male Youth World Championship Team
- Vasek Cervenka (Grand Rapids, Minn./Mt. Itasca)
- Garrett Beckrich (Grand Rapids, Minn./Mt. Itasca)
- Eli Nielsen (Stehekin, Wash./Methow Valley Biathlon)
- Maxime Germain (Anchorage, Alaska/Alaska Biathlon)
According to the same press release, “the following athletes have qualified for the Junior IBU Cup #3 to be held Jan. 25-27 in Duszniki Zdroj, Poland, as well as the IBU Junior Open European Championships taking place Jan. 31-Feb. 4 in Pokljuka, Slovenia:”
Female Jun IBU Cup #3 and Junior Open European Championship
- Chloe Levins (Rutland, Vt./VT Biathlon/Mountain Top Nordic Ski Club) – pre-qualified
- Amada Kautzer (Plymouth, Minn./Loppet Nordic Racing Michigan)
- Helen Wilson (Eagle River, Alaska/Alaska Biathlon)
- Grace Gilliland (Eagle River, Alaska/Alaska Biathlon)
- Lexie Madigan (Truckee, Calif./Auburn Ski Club)
Male Junior IBU Cup #3 and Junior Open European Championship
- Vasek Cerenka (Grand Rapids, Minn./Mt. Itasca)
- Cody Johnson (Fort Kent, Maine/Outdoor Sports Institute)
- Garrett Beckrich (Grand Rapids, Minn./Mt. Itasca)
- Eli Nielsen (Stehekin, Wash./Methow Valley Biathlon)
