Caulkins will race in Slovenia
Recent Wood River High School graduate Chase Caulkins, 18, has qualified for the 2010 U.S. Mountain Running Team due to compete Sunday, Sept. 5 at Kamnik, Slovenia in the 26th World Mountain Running Championships.
Athletes on the U.S. junior team must be ages 16-19. This year's seven-runner junior squad (4 boys, 3 girls) managed by Paul Kirsch of Madison, N.H. represents six states—Idaho, Arizona, California, Colorado, Tennessee and Virginia.
Hailey resident Caulkins won the 2009 Idaho State 4A cross country championship in northern Idaho and added the State 4A 1600-meter track and field title last May in Boise. He set a personal 5k record of 15:48 at the Nike Nationals last year.
Caulkins is entering his freshman year at the University of Portland, Ore., where he intends to run cross country. He has a background as a competitive Nordic and alpine skier.
In Slovenia, the junior men will compete on an 8.5k course that gains 1,035 meters. Junior women tackle a 4.5k race gaining 430 meters.
Other team members are Paul Petersen, 18, of Broomfield, Colo.; Cody Wells, 19, of Snowflake, Az.; Chris York, 19, of White Post, Va.; Laura Beresford, 18, of Dana Point, Ca.; Hannah Jumper, 17, of Chattanooga, Tenn.; and Hannah Valenzuela, 17, of Apple Valley, Ca.
Visit usmrt.com.
Cyclist Youmans repeats as time trial champion
Ketchum cyclist Sara Youmans, 14, defended her title Sunday to win the Idaho State Time Trial Championships in the Women's Category 4 Division at Mountain Home. Youmans, who rides for Peanut Butter & Co. 2012 Women's Professional Cycling Team, finished the 20-kilometer course on old S.H. 30 in 31:45. Youmans is the 2009 National Time Trial champion for Junior Women 13-14. She is coached by Olympic Gold medalist Kristin Armstrong. The Intermountain Cycling Organization sponsored the race.
Farrington in New Zealand pipe
Bellevue's Kaitlyn Farrington (74.24) placed fourth in the women's halfpipe event of the Burton New Zealand Open at Cardrona Aug. 14. Bringing her best tricks Down Under to claim the title was two-time Olympic medalist Kelly Clark of West Dover, Vt. (88.70).
Roundhouse is site of Thursday's "6 to Sochi" gathering
The Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation (SVSEF) hopes to prepare its top athletes well enough so they can qualify for the 2014 Winter Olympics at Sochi, Russia. And money is needed to reach that goal.
SVSEF Executive Director Don Wiseman said, "With the successes of Vancouver the SVSEF Olympic Development Team is setting its sights on placing six athletes on the U.S. Olympic Team at Sochi, Russia in 2014."
Wiseman said, "'6 at Sochi' is a lofty goal, yet a realistic one given the ODT athlete pipeline. The goal remains tangible as long as our ODT athletes continue to receive training and competition opportunities and financial support."
This past spring, the SVSEF formed a new fundraising arm, called the Olympic Development Team Foundation (ODTF), to provide the annual financial support needed for top athletes to achieve success.
Wiseman said, "The goal of the ODTF is to annually raise a minimum of $200,000 for the SVSEF Olympic Development Team programs in order to reach the goal of '6 at Sochi.'"
To formally introduce 2010-11 SVSEF ODT members, ODTF members are hosting a reception from 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 26 at the Roundhouse on Baldy. The Sun Valley Resort gondola will take guests to and from the celebration. Due to limited space, you should call Alex Sundali 720-2517 to check if space is available.
Alpine ODT coaches are Ruben Macaya, Nate Schwing and Pat Savaria. The alpine ODT athletes are Tanner Farrow and Teagen Palmer.
Cross-country ODT coaches are Rick Kapala and Travis Jones. The athletes are Morgan Arritola and Simi Hamilton, both U.S. Ski Team members, plus Mike Sinnott, Nicole De Yong, Colin Rodgers, Matt Gelso, Katie Bono, Alexa Turzian and Reid Pletcher.
Freestyle ODT coaches are Andy Ware and Joey Cordeau. Athletes are Shane Cordeau of the U.S. Ski Team and Tai Barrymore. Snowboard coach Andy Gilbert has U.S. Ski Teamer Kaitlyn Farrington.
WRHS adds freshman football game this Saturday
Wood River High School athletic director John Rade said a home freshman football game has been added to the previously announced season schedule. The ninth-graders will play the Riverhawks Saturday, Aug. 28 at 12 noon at Phil Homer Field, Hailey.
Submission wrestling in Twin Falls
Students from Hailey's USA Grappling Academy did well in the recent third annual Submission Wrestling and Jiu Jitsu tournament at Twin Falls. Among first-place finishers in their divisions were Michele Rice, Amelia Anderson and Storm Anderson. They train with Lee Anderson at the Grappling Academy.
"Ride the Rails" this Saturday, then go swimming
The Blaine County Recreation District has invited the public to its "Ride the Rails" followed by a free swim on Saturday, Aug. 28. Use the Wood River Trails system (bike, walk, run or blade) from 10 a.m.-12 noon Saturday and enjoy courtesy stations from Ketchum south to Buttercup Rd., Hailey. Donations will be accepted at the courtesy stations (find beverages and snacks there) to buy helmets for kids who need them through the Safe Routes to School program. Pick up a wrist band along the way for free admission from 12-5 in the BCRD county pool, Hailey.
Ski Club organizes Sept. 8 event at Silver Creek
Bob and Lynne Nicholson and Gretchen Palmer of the Sun Valley Ski Club have announced plans for the club's third annual Silver Creek Preserve canoe and nature walk Wednesday, Sept. 8.
Canoes are provided, but the trip is limited to 15 people so sign up now. An option is taking a nature hike with the manager of the preserve. Meet at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 8 at the preserve and bring a picnic lunch. The Ski Club will provide beer, wine, and soft drinks for lunch at 12 noon. RSVP by Sept. 1 by calling 622-3003 or emailing the club office.
Rusch, Schroeder lead women bikers at Targhee
Ketchum's Rebecca Rusch (4.32:36) and Hailey's Sara Schroeder (5.05:06) placed 1-2 among the 14 Open Women bikers in the 50-mile two-lap event of the second annual Pierre's Hole 50/100 mile cross country race at Grand Targhee Resort Saturday, Aug. 21. There were nearly 80 participants, twice as many as last year. Hailey's Cameron Lloyd (5.42:26) was ninth among the 12 Open Men at 50 miles, while Ketchum's Greg Martin (4.59:43) was the Open Singlespeed men's runner-up.
Cary Smith, out of Jackson, Wyo., finished first in the 100-mile Open Men's category with a blistering 8:40:49. Ketchum's Matt Luhn (4:45) completed two of the four laps of the 100-miler in the Master Men 45-plus class.
U.S. Paragliding Nationals come to Sun Valley Saturday
The skies over Ketchum will be filled with paragliders over the next week because the 2010 U.S. Paragliding Nationals and Pre-Paragliding World Cup will be staged in the Wood River Valley Aug. 28-Sept. 5. The practice day is Sunday, Aug. 29. Competition days are Monday, Aug. 30 through Sunday, Sept. 5. Local pilots including Hailey's Nate Scales will compete. Visit usparaglidingnats.com.
