Wow! Women’s Moguls Go 1-2-3-4 in Placid Print E-mail
Written by Peter Kray / SkiPressWorld.com   
Friday, 22 January 2010 10:12
Lake Placid, NY (Ski Press)-It was an incredible day for the USA as Hannah Kearney, Shannon Bahrke, Heather McPhie and Michelle Roark took an unprecedented 1-2-3-4 sweep at the Nature Valley Freestyle Cup in Lake Placid.

For Kearney, who locked in her place in Vancouver at Olympic Trials in Steamboat Springs, being able to lead a sweep that included a showcase of the great talent the USA has to offer was an amazing experience.

"When I got down and crossed the finish line, I looked to the side and there were three U.S. Team uniforms. It was such a good day for the U.S.," Kearney said. "It's an honor to come out on top, even when it is your teammates because those are the best skiers.  It definitely creates some buzz going into the Olympics to have four legitimate contenders for a medal. Any of our team members could do it and it's really exciting for the U.S. Ski Team and for the USA."

Of great importance to Kearney was being able to win the final event before the 2010 Olympics, especially at Lake Placid.

"To win the last event going into the Olympics is great for my confidence and I needed it," Kearney said. "I've never had any success on this course and it's sort of my home event, so it as nice to overcome that little streak I was having."

On the men's side of the moguls field, Michael Morse (Duxbury, MA) led the way for U.S. men with a fifth, followed by Bryon Wilson (Butte, MT) in eighth. Wilson, along with Trials winner Patrick Deneen (Cle Elum, WA) had already sewn up spots. Nate Roberts (Park City, UT), who skipped the event to recover from last week's crashes at Deer Valley, stayed secure in his bid for a first Olympic Team with his third place finish a month ago in Finland.

With the final Olympic qualification now wrapped up, the Olympic Team for moguls will be named Tuesday, Jan. 26th at Deer Valley Resort in Utah.

OFFICIAL RESULTS

2010 Nature Valley Freestyle Challenge

Lake Placid, NY - Jan. 21, 2010

Moguls

Men

1. Guilbaut Colas, France, 26.51

2. Dale Begg-Smith, Australia, 25.95

3. Jesper Bjoernlund, Sweden, 25.44

4. Alexandre Bilodeau, Canada, 24.90

5. Michael Morse, Duxbury, MA, 24.89

Women

1. Hannah Kearney, Norwich, VT, 25.13

2. Shannon Bahrke, Tahoe City, CA, 24.96

3. Heather McPhie, Park City, UT, 24.08

4. Michelle Roark, Denver, 24.05

5. Chloe Dufor-Lapoine, Canada, 23.99

 
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