GRP Biathlon: Shutzenski Festival/USBA Trials 2025
The GRP Biathlon team traveled to Soldier Hollow in Midway, Utah, the Olympic biathlon venue from the 2002 Olympics for international team trials and the Shutzenski Festival. In the first step of qualification to compete either on the World or IBU Cup, athletes competed in 3 races over 5 days, with their best 2 of 3 results (based on a percent-back system) counted. The top 8 men and top 8 women will be taken to Obertilliach, Austria for an on-snow pre-season camp in November that will then split the team between World Cup and IBU Cup competition.
(photos from US Biathlon)
Day 1 - sprint
It was a sunny start to the day for the women who faced a 7.5k sprint race. Two shooting stages: prone and standing. Penalty laps for each miss. Margie Freed led the way for the Cedar Sprigs, shooting (1,2), in an eventual tie for 2nd with Deedra Irwin, just 5 seconds behind the winner, Luci Anderson. Kelsey Dickinson placed 7th, shooting (1,1); Michaela Keller-Miller was 9th (2,1); Jackie Garso finished 14th (2,3).
The weather turned just before the men started with heavy rain dropping and sideways gusts of wind. Jake Brown managed 90% shooting (1,0) and finished 2nd, just 11 seconds behind the winner, Maxime Germain. Bjorn Westervelt shot (2,3) placing 8th; Luke Brown finished in 11th (2,3). Tim Cobb DNF’d.
Women’s results.
Men’s results.
Day 2 - sprint
The next 2 races were a part of the Shutzenski Festival. Margie went (2,0) to place 4th with Michaela shooting the same to finish 8th. Jackie shot (2,2), finishing in 12th with Kelsey placing 21st with (0,3) shooting.
Jake had another strong race, with only one miss (0,1), placing 3rd behind World Champs silver medalist Campbell Wright. Bjorn was 12th, shooting (2,1) with Tim Cobb placing 25th with (0,1). Luke unfortunately got sick so was unable to compete.
Day 3 - mass start
In the final race of the series, athletes completed 5 laps of the race course with 4 shooting stages: prone, prone, standing, standing. Still penalty laps for each miss. Margie (2,0,2,1) skied to a strong 4th place with Kelsey (0,0,2,0) in 7th, Michaela (2,2,1,2) in 10th, and Jackie (3,0,2,1) finishing in 24th.
For the men, Jake (2,3,1,1) was 5th, Bjorn (2,3,1,2) 9th, and Tim (4,3,2,1) 26th
Team naming
The GRP will be sending 4 athletes to the US Biathlon preseason camp in Obertilliach, Austria: Margie, Kelsey, Jake and Bjorn. At the end of this camp, World and IBU Cup team selections will be made. The WC team will then head to Oestersund, Sweden to begin their season on November 29th while the the IBU Cup team will remain in Austria for their first competitions on December 4th. Good luck, Sprigs!