The USBA International Competition Committee met yesterday to name the teams for World Cup 4 and IBU Cup 4. Further team naming will happen following IBU Cup 4 on January 8th and following the NorAm Championships and IBU Cup 5 on January 16th.
In total 14 athletes were named today to compete in Europe. The ICC will be involved with the staff in discussions of moving athletes between the IBU Cup and WC based on performance as described in the teams selection procedures (see excerpts below).
Athletes not already named to compete in Europe are strongly urged to participate in the North American Cup and North American Championships in January for possible selection to either the U-26 European Championship Team or IBU Cups 6 & 7 to be held in Canmore, Alberta, Canada in February. Funding for these two events is limited by USBA budget constraints. Athletes may be asked to cover their own expenses at those events but USBA will provide coaching and ski technicians to support the competitors. Details will be available at the time of team naming on 16 Jan 2012. Below the team naming information you will find excerpts from the team selection procedures regarding further selections.
The ICC would like to thank all the athletes and their coaches for their participation in the team selection events and congratulate everyone for their progress. We wish you happy holidays and much success in the New Year!
ICC Decisions for WC 4 in Oberhof, GER and IBU Cup 4 in Forni Avoltri, ITA
The ICC names the following athletes for WC 4
WOMEN:
- Susan Dunklee and Sara Studebaker - the two top ranked women in overall WC standings
- Annelies Cook by discretion
Reasoning: Strong ski speed at IBU Cup 2 (5th and 8th Ski time)
Good ski speed at WC: ability to make pursuit with 3 penalty loops
Very strong performance in the Mixed Relay in Hochfilzen WC
MEN:
- Lowell Bailey and Jay Hakkinen: the two top ranked men in overall WC
- Tim Burke by discretion:
Reasoning: Top 10 finish WC 1, world class ski speed
- Leif Nordgren by discretion:
Reasoning: 15th net-time in the Pursuit at WC 3
Top 35 finish at WC 3
Ability to contribute to a strong relay result (see: no extra round at
WC relay Hochfilzen) in Oberhof…very important to keep Top 10
spot in Nationcup points (= 5 start spots next season)
Recent improvements in both training and competition
The USBA ICC names the following athletes for IBU Cup 4 Forni Avoltri/ITA
WOMEN:
- Lanny Barnes
- Tracy Barnes
- Laura Spector
All 3 qualified for IBU Cups dec, but are not named to WC 4
- Anna Kubek: winner of Dec IBU Cup Trials
MEN:
- Jeremy Teela
- Bill Bowler
Both qualified for IBU Cups in Dec, but are not named to WC 4
- Russel Currier: winner of Dec IBU Cup Trials
Relevant Excerpts from the Team Selection Procedures for further team nominations.
Nove Mesto World Cup 5 and Antholz World Cup 6.
-‐Athletes qualified for Oberhof WC team
-‐Winner of Trials from Forni Avoltri/ITA IBU Cup. The best 2 of 3 races (2 IBU Cup races, Individual & Sprint, and one time trial, SP) at IBU Cup Forni Avoltri will be scored using the USBA percent back system. Points base will include only US athletes in each race.
-‐Up to 1 more positions can be filled by staff recommendation and ICC approval if team is not full yet
Haute Maurienne IBU Cup 5
-‐Athletes who qualified for the Forni Avoltri IBU Cup but not qualified for WC 5 Nove Mesto and WC 6 Antholz
Movement between IBU Cup and World Cup
The national team coaching staff may use the following guidelines to recommend to the ICC that athletes from the IBU Cup start in the World Cup, as well as moving athletes from World Cup down to the IBU Cup.
1. In case of excellent performance on the IBU Cup and availability of an open start position on the World Cup, an athlete can be moved up to the World Cup.
2. Athletes not placing in the top 60 on the World Cup can be brought down to the IBU Cup at any time or dismissed from the WC Team.
3. Athletes achieving a top 15 and a top 20 at IBU Cup will be moved up to the World Cup provided there are open start positions.
4. Athletes who have been injured or sick for lengthy periods of time can be brought down to the IBU Cup, or dismissed from the WC Team.
In addition, IBU cup athletes will be considered to fill World Cup relay teams when there are not enough World Cup athletes to fill the team and the logistics of getting an athlete to the event can be managed without excessive costs and the coaching staff sees the need and/or benefit of having a relay team compete.
6. U-‐26 ECH 2011
Men and Women
-‐All U26 athletes who are qualified for WC Nove Mesto and Antholz are eligible for U‐26 ECH 2011. Possible conflict with WC 7 and WC 8 and WCH schedule will be assessed by coaching staff and this may limit starts for WC athletes at U-26 ECH.
-‐Top ranked U-26 athlete from the IBU Cup Haute Maurienne and Forni Avoltri (best 3 of 5 races)
-‐Additional athletes may be named by staff recommendation and ICC approval. January 2012 NorAm races held prior to Jan 15th will be an important measure for assessment. Staff will assess performances at the early January NorAms and the relative strength of the competitive field at those races.
7. IBU Cups Canada
Men and Women
-‐All athletes qualified for IBU Cups 4 and 5 but not for WC 7 and 8.
-‐Additional athletes may be nominated by staff recommendation and ICC approval if there are remaining start positions. January 2012 NorAm races held prior to Jan 15, 2012 will be an important measure for assessment. Staff will assess performances at the early January NorAms and the relative strength of the competitive field at those races.
Maximum Team Size 4 per gender
Complete Selection Procedures can be found at: (please not that IBU switched the location of the IBU Cups so IBU Cu 4 is in Forni Avoltri and IBU Cup 5 is in Haute Maurienne)
http://assets.usoc.org/assets/documents/attached_file/filename/43020/IntlTeamCrit2011.pdf