News Release
Stillwater Sophomore Speeds to Skate Ski Victory : Diggins Dominates Field in J1 Skate Race
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA – Mar. 12, 2008 – Jessie Diggins, a sophomore at Stillwater Area High School, Minn., led from start to finish in today’s J1 girls 5 km skate race at the 2008 Junior Olympic Cross Country Ski Championships today, March 12, 2008, in Anchorage, Alaska.
Donning bib number three, the 16 year-old caught the two racers in front of her before they even reached the halfway point in the course, winning the race by more than 26 seconds over Kate Dolan, from the Intermountain team.
“I was motivated after Monday’s races,” says Diggins, who placed second in the 1.5 km sprints earlier this week. “I did a lot of training this year to prepare for the season.”
Caught off-guard by a 2-inch dusting of snow that fell late yesterday evening and early this morning, Team Midwest coach Reid Lutter says his staff was out at the venue by six o’clock this morning, re-waxing every ski before the 10 am start.
Diggins credited her win, in part, to the Team Midwest wax crew.
“Our wax men hit it just right,” Diggins said. “They worked really hard and my skis were really fast.”
The 2008 USSA Junior Olympic Cross Country Ski Championships continue at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 14, 2008, with the classic mass start races.
About the 2008 USSA Junior Olympic Cross Country Ski Championships
More than 400 athletes and 94 coaches are participating in the 2008 Junior Olympics at Kincaid Park. Locally, 52 Alaskans are competing in the races, attended to by 14 coaches.
More than 350 young athletes from the Lower 48 are competing from regions across the country including New England, the Midwest, the Pacific Northwest, California and the Rocky Mountains.
For detailed event and race schedule visit www.2008JuniorOlympics.org.
About Anchorage’s Kincaid Park
Kincaid Park, one of Anchorage’s major outdoor recreation centers, hosts more than a million visitors a year according to the Anchorage Parks & Recreation Department. The area contains more than 1,400 acres of forest boasting more than 50km of trails. Although the park serves both winter and summer outdoors enthusiasts, it is best known for the world-class Nordic skiing and biathlon facilities that have hosted national and international events.
More than $6 million has been spent by public and private organizations to ready the park for the 2008 ski season.
The Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau’s mission is to attract and serve visitors to the Municipality of Anchorage. ACVB’s marketing functions are funded by one-third of the bed tax collected by the lodging association. One-third goes to the Municipality’s general fund and one-third goes to the Anchorage Civic & Convention Center construction project. ACVB receives no state or federal funds. Explore www.Anchorage.net for more information.
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Media Contacts:
Shelly Wozniak
Public Relations Manager
Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau
swozinak@anchorage.net
(907) 257-2331 direct
(907) 250-5285 cell
(907) 222-3752 fax
Nance Larsen, APR
Vice President, Communications & Marketing Programs
Anchorage Convention & Visitors Bureau
pr@anchorage.net
(907) 276-4118
Explore www.Anchorage.net
