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Vonn, Cochran Win National Slalom Titles
SUGARLOAF, Maine (March 22) - World Cup overall champion Lindsey Vonn (Vail, CO) and reigning U.S. slalom champion Jimmy Cochran (Keene, NH) each laid down the fastest first and second runs to win national slalom titles at the 2008 Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships Saturday.
For Cochran, who celebrated his victory by signing a group of children's helmets and allowing them to sign his race skis, this win marked the second consecutive year he has captured the national slalom title.
"It's awesome. Just being here in New England and being back at Sugarloaf where I raced so many times, it's special," Cochran said. "The snow was a little bit softer, so to be first [in the first run] was really good. I had a fresh track and that was a huge advantage. You really had to be ready for those turning sections."
Cochran, who held the lead through the first run and smoked the course in the second to be fastest overall, said that he was impressed by the younger athletes he raced against.
"Watching the younger guys ski today, it is amazing. The nature of this sport, especially in slalom, is the young guys are pushing the technique and the equipment and we're just holding," Cochran said. "There's a lot to be learned from watching those younger guys."
The U.S. Ski Team's Cody Marshall (Pittsfield, VT) took second, and Teammate Tim Jitloff (Reno, NV) was third.
The queen of women's skiing, Vonn won the slalom with nearly two seconds to spare to make it her fourth U.S. title, and second in slalom.
"Today was a great race. The atmosphere here is really good and I'm really glad that we're back here," Vonn said. "The first run was good. It was solid skiing. The course is pretty quick and tight. The second run was pretty rutted, but I just tried to have a solid run with nothing special. I knew I had a big margin after the first run so I didn't push my limits too hard."
While Vonn led the pack, the U.S. Ski Team's Hailey Duke (Boise, ID) came in second, and Jenny Lathrop (North Conway, NH) was third.
"I was a little nervous in the first run that all these young skiers were going to come up and beat me because they all look so good. It's cool racing against all these little kids. I remember I was in the same position when I was younger and hopefully they're having fun."
Although Vonn is the World Cup overall and downhill champion, she said that winning a national title is just as important to her.
"It's big. It is the U.S. Nationals. You're the best in the United States and that's cool, Vonn said. "It means something to me. I remember when I was 15 I thought it was the coolest thing ever to be the national champion."
The 2008 Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships continue Sunday with men's and women's super G.
MULTIMEDIA
For photos from this race click here.
To hear audio from this race click here.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
2008 NATURE VALLEY U.S. ALPINE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Sugarloaf, ME - March 22, 2008
Slalom
Men
1. Jimmy Cochran, Keene, NH, 1:26.69
2. Cody Marshall, Pittsfield, VT, 1:27.90
3. Tim Jitloff, Reno, NV, 1:28.16
4. Andrew Phillips, Sandy, UT, 1:29.27
5. Michael Ankeny, Deephaven, MN, 1:29.99
Women
1. Lindsey Vonn, Vail, CO, 1:26.31
2. Hailey Duke, Boise, ID, 1:28.21
3. Jenny Lathrop, North Conway, NH, 1:28.42
4. Keely Kelleher, Gallatin Gateway, MT, 1:30.86
5. Chelsea Marshall, Pittsfield, VT, 1:31.21
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Vonn, Cochran Win National Slalom Titles
