January 01, 2015 (New Gloucester, Maine) – U.S. Biathlon’s International Competition Committee is happy to announce additional team members for the 2015 Youth / Junior World Championships in Minsk-Raubichi, Belarus, Feb 17-24, 2015, details here. The Youth (under 19) and Junior (under 21) World Championships will attract the best age group athletes from over 30 nations. U.S. Biathlon congratulates the athletes from eight states, as well as their families, coaches and clubs, on their qualification for the Team.

US Biathlon Team for the the 2015 IBU Biathlon Youth / Junior World Championships in Minsk-Raubichi, Belarus.
Junior Women
– Maddie Phaneuf, Maine Winter Sports Ctr, USBA X Team, Old Forge, N.Y., pre-qualified by her 4th place at the 2014 YWCH
– Mikaela Paluszek, Maine Winter Sports Ctr, Saxtons River, Vt.  Top-ranked junior woman at the trials.

Youth Women
– Chloe Levins, Mtn Top Nordic Ski Club, Rutland, Vt. Top-ranked youth woman at the trials
– Siena Ellingson, Mt. Itasca / MN Biathlon, Minnetonka, Minn. Second-ranked youth woman at the trials
– Hannah Streinz,  Maine Winter Sport Ctr, Hersay, ME. Third-ranked youth woman at the trials
– Amanda Kautzer, LNR/MN Biathlon, Plymouth, Minn. Fourth-ranked youth woman at the trials

Junior Men
– Sean Doherty, USBA X-Team, Center Conway, N.H., pre-qualified by medals at the 2014 YWCH
– Brian Halligan, Maine Winter Sports Ctr, Gansevoort, N.Y., Top-ranked junior man at the trials
– Jakob Ellingson, Mt. Itasca/MN Biathlon, Minnetonka, Minn. Second-ranked junior man from the trials

Youth Men
– Cam Christiansen, Nisswa NW / MN Biathlon, Pequot Lakes, Minn.,  Top-ranked youth man at the trials
– Paul Everett, Methow Valley Biathlon, Tacoma, Wash., Second-ranked youth man at the trials
– Alexander Kilby, Skiku Biathlon, Anchorage, Alaska. Third-ranked youth man at the trials
– Sam Zabell, Auburn Ski Club, Truckee, California. Fourth-ranked youth man at the trials

The US Team will be able to compete in all the relays at the Youth & Junior World Championships by having a youth race up for both the junior men’s and women’s teams.

Junior Open European Championship Team Named
US Biathlon is also happy to announce the following athletes are named the Junior team for the Open European Championships, Jan 27 – Feb 3, 2015 in Otepää, Estonia Competition details here.  In addition to competing in the Individual, Sprint and Pursuit, the four athletes will form a team for the mixed relay.

Junior Women
– Maddie Phaneuf, Maine Winter Sports Ctr, USBA X Team, Old Forge, N.Y., pre-qualified by her 4th place at the 2014 YWCH
– Mikaela Paluszek, Maine Winter Sports Ctr, Saxtons River, Vt.  Top-ranked junior woman at the trials.

Junior Men
– Sean Doherty, USBA X-Team, Center Conway, N.H., pre-qualified by medals at the 2014 YWCH
– Brian Halligan, Maine Winter Sports Ctr, Gansevoort, N.Y., Top-ranked junior man at the trials

U.S. Biathlon wishes to thank the Mt. Itasca Biathlon Club for organizing the trials on short notice due to a lack of snow Anchorage, Alaska, where the trials were scheduled.  Full results are posted here.

Congratulations to all 45 athletes who participated in the Youth/Junior World Team trials. The level of competition was very high and we wish each of you much success in the New Year!  We look forward to having everyone together again for the 2015 Biathlon National Championships in Truckee, California March 20 to 23.