Jericho Welcomes Biathlon Community Back For 2025 Summer Nationals
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by Sara Donatello
The U.S. Biathlon Summer Nationals and Eastern Regional Championship returned to the Ethan Allen Firing Range in Jericho, VT, August 3-4, with a weekend of thrilling competition for the 104 senior, junior, youth, U17, U15, and masters athletes. While the temperatures were milder than in years past, the on-site medical team remained fully prepared, setting up athlete cooling zones, stocking extra water at the finish and on course, and providing post-race recovery support.
Day 1 – Sprint Showdowns
Saturday’s sprint races delivered exciting performances from all age categories. In the senior women’s sprint, Deedra Irwin redeemed herself from a 2024 sprint disqualification, edging out National Team teammate Margie Freed, who claimed second, finishing +30.5 behind Irwin. Swiss National Team athlete Lena Häecki-Gross finished third overall. The U.S. women’s sprint podium featured Irwin, Freed, and Chloe Levins in third.
In the senior men’s sprint, Paul Schommer’s clean shooting led to a commanding victory. Jake Brown crossed the line in second, +1:04.2 behind Schommer, and Sean Doherty rounded out the podium in third, setting the stage for an intense second day of racing.
Junior men’s sprint podium: Tristan Thrasher, Aidan Sands, Eric Anderson
Junior women’s sprint podium: Abigail Van Dorn, Reine Soule, Sarah Hottle
Youth men’s sprint podium: Cyrus Pott, Alden Reardon, Kellen Groth
Youth women’s sprint podium: Rowan Tanguay, Selah Binsfeld, Maren Sands
U17 men’s sprint podium: Jean-Felix Gendron, River Gray, Jarrod Wilson (U.S. Podium: Gray, Wilson, Jon Leif Hellstedt)
U17 women’s sprint podium: Elin Lunoe, Naomi Smith, Evelyn Budzinski
U15 men’s sprint podium: Bowman Suddaby, Saku Kerr, Oakley Crawford
U15 women’s sprint podium: Aemilia Terrone, Annika Hellstedt
Senior masters men’s sprint podium: Peter Vile, Brian LeTourneau, Scott Betournay
Veteran men’s sprint podium: Hugh Pritchard, Charles LaCasse, Donald Perks (U.S. Podium: Pritchard, Perks)
Senior veteran men’s sprint podium: Pavel Dvorak
Day 2 – Mass Start & Pursuit Drama
Sunday featured mass start races for senior athletes and pursuit formats for all other age categories. The senior women’s mass start saw Freed power to her first-ever Summer National Championship title with an impressive performance, hitting 17 for 20 targets overall, cleaning both standing stages. Canadian biathlete Shilo Rousseau claimed second overall, while Levins took third. The U.S. podium featured Freed, Levins, and Irwin.
On the men’s side, Doherty capitalized on his deep familiarity with the Jericho course to take a decisive win. Rising talent Wes Campbell, in his first year as a senior, delivered a breakout performance for second place, while Schommer secured third, crossing the line just +9.8 behind Campbell.
Junior men’s sprint podium: Tristan Thrasher, Thomas Van De Kamp, Aidan Sands
Junior women’s sprint podium: Reine Soule, Abigail Van Dorn, Brenna Barton
Youth men’s sprint podium: Alden Reardon, Kellen Groth, Cyrus Pott
Youth women’s sprint podium: Selah Binsfeld, Davis Brosterhous, Rowan Tanguay
U17 men’s sprint podium: Jarrod Wilson, Jean-Felix Gendron, Jon Leif Hellstedt (U.S. Podium: Wilson, Hellstedt, Nate Cook Yoder)
U17 women’s sprint podium: Elin Lunoe, Naomi Smith, Lillian Suddaby
U15 men’s sprint podium: Bowman Suddaby, Oakley Crawford, Saku Kerr
U15 women’s sprint podium: Aemilia Terrone, Annika Hellstedt
Senior masters men’s sprint podium: Brian LeTourneau, Peter Vile, Stephen Simmerman
Veteran men’s sprint podium: Charles LaCasse, Donald Perks (U.S. Podium: Perks)
Senior veteran men’s sprint podium: Gregg Pattison, Pavel Dvorak
The U.S. Biathlon community will reunite October 3-4 at Soldier Hollow Nordic Center in Midway, Utah for the 2025 U.S. Biathlon Fall Festival & International Team Trials, as the road to the 2026 Olympic Winter Games continues.
CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS FROM THE WEEKEND. *Please credit the proper photographer.
