Earning her second bronze medal in two days, U.S. Nordic Ski Team racer Morgan Arritola, 24, of Ketchum epitomized Sun Valley success at the 2011 U.S. Cross Country Ski Championships in Rumford, Me.
Arritola, a Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation Olympic Development Team racer, placed third behind Liz Stephen of Vermont and Holly Brooks of Anchorage, Ak. in Thursday's national 20-kilometer freestyle race on the
Black Mountain course.
The SVSEF racer had placed third in the 10k classic race just 24 hours before the skate. Indeed, SVSEF competitors made the podium each day of nationals starting with Mike Sinnott's classic sprint silver Jan. 2.
Arritola's eighth podium in her eight national championship appearances since 2004 was a highlight of a long week that saw Rumford organizers battle Mother Nature—with race volunteers shoveling snow to make race tracks suitable.
Other SVSEF highlights: Simi Hamilton's silver medal in Saturday's men's 1.6k freestyle sprints; and Colin Rodgers winning the "B" finals of Saturday's sprints after placing first in sprint qualifying.
Week-end results included:
Jan. 6, men's 30k skate: 1—Tad Elliott (Durango, Colo.) 1.10:16 (first U.S. title. 5—Mike Sinnott 1.11:13. 15—Matt Gelso 1.13:20 (83 skiers). Jr. Boys 10k: 21—Max Christman 26:53. 27—Scotty Phelan 27:05. 48—William Spiller 27:38 (93 skiers).
Jan. 6, women's 20k skate: 1—Liz Stephen (Burke Mt., East Montpelier, Vt.) 50:03 (6th U.S. title. 3—Morgan Arritola 51:19. 9—Nicole DeYong 52:47. 12—Alexa Turzian (Univ. Colo.) 53:13 (58 skiers). Jr. Girls 10k: 8—Annie Pokorny 14:22. 49—Sloan Storey 15:21. 51—Carrie Heagney 15:23 (76 skiers).
Jan. 8, men's 1.6k freestyle sprints: 1—Torin Koos (Wenatchee). 2—Simi Hamilton. 7—Colin Rodgers. 13—Sinnott. 30—Phelan. 37—Gelso. 88—Christman. 113—Spiller.
Jan. 8, women's 1.4k freestyle sprints: 1—Jessica Diggins (Minnesota). 9—DeYong (won quarterfinal, 4th semi). 71—Storey. 92—Heagney.
Pletcher makes USA's World U-23 team
Based on results of last week's U.S. Cross Country Ski Championships in Maine, 22-year-old Reid Pletcher of Hailey has been chosen to the 2011 U.S. World U-23 Ski Championship Team for racing in Estonia.
Pletcher is a Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation Olympic Development Team member competing for the University of Colorado, Boulder.
He was one of 13 Americans chosen to compete Jan. 27-31 at Otepaa, Estonia in the World U-23s, part of the World Junior Ski Championships. World U-23 coach Matt Whitcomb said, "The U-23 Championships is the launch pad for World Cup racing."
Over five days the USA skiers will compete in three events, beginning with the men's and women's 15-kilometer/10k free technique race Jan. 27 and ending with the men's and women's 30k/15k pursuit Jan. 31.
Pletcher will join six other U.S. men including former SVSEF ODT racer Noah Hoffman of Aspen, Colo. and 2010 U.S. champ Tad Elliott.
