Johnson Top U18 at JWCs Downhill

JANSA, Slovakia (March 5) - U.S. Ski Team National Training Group athlete Breezy Johnson (Salt Lake City; Rowmark Academy) finished 15th in the FIS Alpine Junior World Championships women's downhill to claim the top finish among athletes under 18. Johnson was just .05 behind teammate Katie Ryan (Aspen, CO; Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club) who posted the top finish among all U.S. athletes with 14th. Katharine Irwin (Vail, CO; Ski and Snowboard Club Vail) also produced a solid run to finish 18th. Super G champion Corinne Suter of Switzerland won for her second gold medal of the championships. Also claiming gold Wednesday was Norwegian Henrik Kristoffersen, who won the men's slalom for his second victory in two days. Ty Sprock (Stateline, NV; Treble Cone Ski Academy) posted the top U.S. men's result with 31st to close the 2014 Junior World Championships.

HIGHLIGHTS

• U.S. Ski Team National Training Group athlete Breezy Johnson (Salt Lake City; Rowmark Academy) closed the 2014 FIS Alpine Junior World Championships with 15th in women's downhill, the top result among U18 athletes.
• Katie Ryan (Aspen, CO; Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club), who was third in the first of two downhill training runs, led the U.S. with 14th. Katharine Irwin (Vail, CO; Ski and Snowboard Club Vail) also posted a solid finish with 18th and Alice Merryweather (Hingham, MA; Stratton Mountain School) was 36th.
• Swiss racer Corinne Suter, who also won gold in super G, claimed the downhill victory ahead of Nora Grieg Christensen of Norway and Kirsten Nicolussi of Austria.
• The men's slalom was also contested Wednesday with Norwegian Henrik Christoffersen adding to his giant slalom gold with the slalom win. Swiss racers Luca Aerni and Daniel Yule took silver and bronze.
• Ty Sprock (Stateline, NV; Treble Cone Ski Academy posted the top U.S. result with 31st. Sam Morse (Carrabassett Valley, ME; Carrabassett Valley Academy) finished 38th. Tanner Farrow (Ketchum, ID; Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation) did not finish the second run and Sandy Vietze (Warren, VT; Green Mountain Valley School) went out in the first run.
• U.S. athletes now head to Canada March 11-16 for the NorAm finals with slalom races at the Canada Olympic Park in Calgary and giant slalom, super G and super combined at Nakiska.
• The 2014 Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships immediately follow NorAm Finals March 19-23 in Squaw Valley, CA.

RESULTS
Official Results

LINKS

Facebook

Twitter

USSA Network