Rowmark's Van Wagner, Phillips kick off J2 nationals with DH victories

Rowmark’s Van Wagner, Phillips kick off J2 nationals with DH victories{mosimage}The J2 national championships kicked off March 8 in Sun Valley, Idaho, with men’s and women’s downhills, and Rowmark Academy has to happy with the results.

Jennifer Van Wagner and Andrew Phillips both secured victories, and throw in Taylor Vest-Burton, third in the men’s race, and Rowmark athletes accounted for half of Wednesday’s podium positions.

Mount Bachelor’s Tommy Ford split the Rowmark men, finishing second in the men’s race, roughly three-tenths behind Phillips, and a half-second ahead of Vest-Burton, who is a first-year J2.

Aspen’s Alice McKennis was second in the women’s race, ahead of Park City’s Kate Williams. Holderness’ Julia Ford, a first-year J2, was fourth, .4 ahead of Christa Ghent, another first-year J2.

Featuring the best J2s from around the country, the J2 nationals continue throughout the week, with super G on Thursday, men’s GS on Friday, women’s GS on Saturday and slalom for both sexes on Sunday.

Men’s downhill
J2 national championships
Sun Valley, Idaho
March 8, 2006

1. PHILLIPS Andrew 1:07.68
2. FORD Tommy 1:07.95
3. VEST-BURTON Taylor 1:08.45
4. MCLAUGHRY Luke 1:08.49
5. BIESEMEYER Thomas 1:08.65
6. REYNOLDS Charlie 1:08.70
7. LEAFE Trevor 1:08.89
8. BARBOUR Michael 1:08.90
9. HILTS Anton 1:08.92
10. CANNEY John 1:08.99

For complete results from the women’s race, click here.

Women’s downhill
J2 national championships
Sun Valley, Idaho
March 8, 2006

1. VANWAGNER Jennifer 1:09.02
2. MCKENNIS Alice 1:09.68
3. WILLIAMS Kate 1:10.25
4. FORD Julia 1:10.50
5. GHENT Christa 1:10.90
6. ALLEN Jennifer 1:11.11
7. MCLAUGHLIN Amy 1:11.12
8. BRUCE Jasmine 1:11.23
9. LONZA Geordie 1:11.24
10. GILL Melissa 1:11.30

For complete results from the women’s race, click here.