AVSC Nordic Combined Athletes Carpenter and Ward Continue to Shine
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| by Craig Ward - AVSC |
February 16, 2010
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RMD Nordic Junior Olympic Teamk
Photo credit: Craig Ward/AVSC
While many Aspenites are glued to the TV coverage of the Vancouver Olympics, local Aspen athletes produced impressive results this past weekend in Steamboat Springs. Fritz Carpenter qualified as a J2 for the Junior Olympics, and Aspen native Michael Ward, who is now training in Steamboat, qualified for the new J1 event at the Junior Olympics, scheduled for early March in Steamboat Springs.
Carpenter led the 5-man AVSC team, with a 6th place overall finish in the HS (Hill Size)75 and 5 Kilometer ski event. He skied the third-fastest time (17:43) in the 5K race, but because his jumping faltered on his second jump, he started in the eighth place position after the jump. Last year Carpenter finished an impressive 6th place at the national event, the Junior Olympics, in Anchorage, Alaska. "Fritz would like to improve on that result, but his competitors have really trained hard and their jumping has improved considerably," remarked AVSC head coach, Craig Ward. " I think he's definitely got the talent. It will be fun to watch."
Other Aspenites competing in Steamboat were Hayden Joy in the very tough J1 Class. Joy skied to 4th place in both the jumping and cross country events, well behind winner, Cliff Field, who recently represented the USA along with Michael Ward at the World Junior Championships in Hinterzarten, Germany. Joy scored 63.9 points in the jumping section and skied the 5K course in 18:20.
Steve Anderson, who only competed in the special jumping J1 class, ended with a score of 153.7 good for 4th place.
Ben Belinski skied in the open class on the HS 42, winning over Park City native Matt Bernstein. Belinski then skied the 5 K course in 23:03.
Zane Heald jumped in the very competitive J3 class, finishing 11th overall in the special jumping (6th overall for the Nordic Combined skiers), then skied to 4th place in the Nordic Combined with the 4th fastest time of 16:31 in the 3 Kilometer event. Both Heald and Belinski could be seen waving ecstatically to the crowds earlier in the day as both got their first jumps on the HS 72 jump.
AVSC coach Craig Ward was also named to the 5-man coaching squad for the RMD team going to the Junior Olympics, to be held in Steamboat Springs, March 3-6.
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For details, contact
Alan Cole
AVSC
(970) 205-5100
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