Minnesota Athletes Claim National Championship Podium, Named to US Team Rosters
The recent Youth & Junior Nationals and International Team Trials at Soldier Hollow Nordic Center brought sixty-two of the top youth and junior athletes in the country to race at the 2002 and future 2034 Olympic Winter Games biathlon venue in Midway, UT in December 2024.
Not only did the event serve as the national championships for the youth and junior athletes, but they were also vying for spots on the Junior IBU Cup, Junior Open European Championship, Youth World Championship, and Junior World Championship teams.
This event was the first ever combined US Youth & Junior Nationals and International Team Trials. Over the five-day event, athletes competed in two sprint races and one mass start 60.
Racing at Soldier Hollow, the 2002 and the recently announced 2034 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games venue, was an unparalleled experience for young athletes who may very well make their Olympic debut on the very same course in less than ten years.
Soldier Hollow features a world-class course and range and is now home to the U.S. Biathlon Association headquarters.
Nine Minnesota biathletes competed in the races and secured 8 podiums across the three races and two age classes and three were named to international competition teams.
Minnesota Podium List:
| Junior Women 6k Sprint | ||
| 2 | Alexandra RUD | Duluth Biathlon |
| 3 | Audrey LAHAMMER | Minnesota Biathlon |
| Youth Women 6k Sprint | ||
| 3 | Annelise BAIRD | Minnesota Biathlon |
| Youth Men 7.5k Sprint | ||
| 1 | Eric ANDERSON | MN Biathlon / Bluff Country Biathlon |
| Junior Women 9k Mass Start 60 | ||
| 1 | Alexandra RUD | |
| Youth Women 9k Mass Start 60 | ||
| 3 | Annelise BAIRD | |
| Youth Men 12k Mass Start 60 | ||
| 3 | Eric ANDERSON | |
| Junior Women 7.5k Sprint | ||
| 1 | Alexandra RUD |
Weather ranged from wet snow and rain early in the competition week to sunny and cold for the final sprint races, although winds were light for the competitions. While Minnesota athletes enjoyed successes, there were also athletes and coaches that dealt with illness, injury, and equipment problems.
Junior IBU Cup & Junior Open European Championships Team
Annelise Baird (Baxter, MN – Minnesota Biathlon)
Eric Anderson (Frontenac, MN – Bluff Country Biathlon)
Junior IBU Cup athletes will travel first to Jakuszyce, POL to compete at Junior IBU Cup 3, January 16-19. From Jakuszyce, the Jr Cup Team will travel west to Altenberg, GER to race in the Junior Open European Championships, January 22-26, 2025.
Youth & Junior World Championship Team
Alexandra Rud (Oslo, NOR – Duluth Biathlon)
Eric Anderson (Frontenac, MN – Bluff Country Biathlon)
Athletes competing at the 2025 Youth and Junior World Championships will travel to the famous World Cup stop in Oestersund, SWE for eight days of competition, February 26 – March 5, 2025.
Current or former Minnesota Athletes that participated at Solder Hollow races December 2024:
| Alexandra RUD | Minnesota Biathlon / Duluth Biathlon / Norway |
| Annelise BAIRD | Minnesota Biathlon |
| Audrey LAHAMMER | Minnesota Biathlon |
| Elliott OBERTON | Minnesota Biathlon |
| Eric ANDERSON | Minnesota Biathlon / Bluff Country Biathlon |
| Evelyn HUDRLIK | Minnesota Biathlon |
| Jesper Maximilian RUD | Minnesota Biathlon / Duluth Biathlon / Norway |
| Kellen GROTH | Minnesota Biathlon / Bluff Country Biathlon |
| Matej CERVENKA | National Guard Biathlon |
| Selah BINSFELD | Minnesota Biathlon / Bluff Country Biathlon |