For the week of January 16 - 22, 2002

Bauer, Kemppel 
rule at Bozeman

SV skiers do well

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John Bauer and Nina Kemppel added some more jewels to their glittering career records by dominating the Chevy Truck U.S. Cross Country Ski Championships last week at Bozeman, Mt.

Bauer, 32, of Minnesota and Kemppel, 31, of Anchorage, Ak. each won three national titles during the weeklong competition at Bohart Ranch and increased their career totals to 11 for Bauer and a record-setting 18 for Kemppel.

Kemppel, heading for her fourth Winter Olympics, and Bauer, making a comeback pitch for his third Winter Games, will lead the U.S. squad to be announced Jan. 21.

Among the national highlights for Sun Valley:

Lars Flora, the national men’s freestyle sprint king, added a third-place in men’s 30k freestyle, 35th in men’s 10k classic and 20th in men’s 50k classic; Hailey’s Pat Casey was 32nd in 10k classic and 25th men’s 10k freestyle pursuit;

Brooke Baughman 11th and Hilary Patzer 36th 15k freestyle; Jess Kiesel 52nd 10k CL; Kaelin Kiesel 53rd 5k CL; Ian Skinner 51st 10k pursuit; Bryce Turzian 35th and Jedd Young 47th 30k freestyle.

 

Three make Scandinavian Cup

Eighteen Sun Valley Junior Nordic ski teamers were among 71 Intermountain Division X-C racers running classic Wednesday and freestyle Thursday (OJ/J1 boys 10k, girls and J2 boys 5k).

Three, Ashley McQueen, Matt DeCarufel and Mike Sinnott, were chosen for the Scandinavian Cup team meaning they’re among the best in the U.S. in their classes.

Scandinavian Cup races are Jan. 25-27 in Steinkjer, Norway.

In a battle of speedy 17-year-olds, Sun Valley’s Ashley McQueen finished a close second to Boise’s Sara Studebaker (22 seconds back) in classic and second to Bozeman’s Kristina Trygstad-Sari (27 seconds) freestyle.

McQueen showed tons of promise at Bozeman, placing 43-39-61-52 overall among 169 women in free sprint, 15k free, 5k classic and 5k free pursuit.

DeCarufel, 17, placed second (4 seconds back) to 18-year-old Ben Ruffatto of Whitefish in 10-kilometer classic and Sinnott, 16, was third (27 seconds back) behind freestyle winner Ruffatto on Thursday.

Jackson Harris topped a commanding performance for Sun Valley in J2 boys with a 1:04 win in classic and 14-second triumph in freestyle. Chase Cleveland finished third in each race at Bohart Ranch.

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Sun Valley placings:

OJ/J1 girls: 
Ashley McQueen 2-CL, 2-FR; Alissa Praggastis 4-CL, 7-FR; Eva Bach 5-CL, 8-FR; Mollie Parker 8-CL, 10-FR.

J2 girls: 
Erin McQueen 8-CL, 4-FR; Lexie Praggastis 9-CL, 8-FR.

OJ/J1 boys: 
Matt DeCarufel 2-CL, 5-FR; Mike Sinnott 5-CL, 3-FR; Robert Slough 8-CL, 7-FR; Brennan Rego 16-CL, 17-FR; Alex Hamlin 18-CL, 15-FR.

J2 boys: 
Jackson Harris 1-CL, 1-FR; Chase Cleveland 3-CL, 3-FR; Lucas Pletcher 5-CL, 5-FR; Brad Bradford 8-CL, 19-FR; George Livingston 9-CL, 6-FR; David Vanderpool 10-CL, 4-FR; Delamon Rego 14-CL, 13-FR; Dawson Paschall 22-CL, 15-FR.

 

The Idaho Mountain Express is distributed free to residents and guests throughout the Sun Valley, Idaho resort area community. Subscribers to the Idaho Mountain Express will read these stories and others in this week's issue.