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JERICHO, Vt. - Thursday night, March 5, Maj. Gen. Steven Cray, the Adjutant General of the Vermont National Guard, thanked the more than 120 athletes who had come to Vermont for the 40th Annual Chief National Guard Bureau Biathlon Championships. Taking place at the Camp Ethan Allen Training Site in Jericho, Vt., the Biathlon ran for five days of racing and shooting competitions.
Earlier in the week Cray had opened the Biathlon by expressing how pleased he was to see such a strong representation from a variety of Guard units with teams arriving from 24 states. Cray also gave a special greeting to the 30 athletes, military and civilian, who were competing at their first championship.
“It’s wonderful to see such a strong sense of community,” Cray said. “To see us all come together, to respect and support each other is what it means to be part of the Guard family.”
Biathlons provide a unique challenge as a sport, consisting of a mix of cross-country skiing followed by precision marksmanship. The drastic switch, from cardiovascular exertion to focused shooting, places added pressure on the athletes who must balance a heightened heart rate with the mental discipline needed for hit their target. Throughout the course athletes must also maintain clear communication with their competitors, calling out when they will be passing someone in order to safely avoid collisions.
This combination, often referred to by the athletes as, “move, shoot and communicate,” neatly summarizes the importance for military members to always be mission ready. For military personnel to be physically fit and able to move quickly, to have the capability to focus on an objective, and to concisely and accurately communicate with teammates.
Biathlon athletes train throughout the year, with many states hosting training camps for their athletes and for visitors. In areas where the lack of snow removes the ability to ski, athletes compensate in a variety of ways; running, roller-skiing, cycling, any activity that provides a similar stress on the heart and lungs.
“It’s a fantastic experience,” said Spc. Tadhg Nakada, a signal support systems specialist with the Alaska National Guard. “I joined the team because I wanted that extra challenge. It’s a great way to get out and see the sport, see other states and teams. I get to push myself and see how good I can be.”
With a mix of athletes this year, ranging from novices to former Olympians, there is a healthy level of competition throughout the event. Many of the younger athletes appreciate the opportunity to learn from more experienced members, saying how often they have received advice on techniques or training methods. And the more seasoned competitors enjoy seeing the renewed passion for a sport they love.
“I’ve been a Biathlete for over 20 years,” said 1st Sgt. Daniel Westover, an infantry mountaineer with the Vermont National Guard. “I’ve been an Olympian and I’ve competed on a world scale. I retired from competition in ’02, the other retired athletes and I are happy to share our experiences and support the new competitors. Anything we can do to support the event also allows us to support the Guard, and that’s what we’re all here for.”
The Biathlon consisted of four different race style events, two individual and two team events, with a break in the middle for an informal shooting competition. Competitors who place well in the individual events have the opportunity to be considered for both World Cup and Olympic teams and the team events are used to determine which state wins the championship.
The winners of the individual events included; Spc. Jacob Dalberg of the Minnesota National Guard who took first place in the Men’s Sprint and Pursuit races. Sgt. 1st Class Erin Graham of the Vermont National Guard who took first place in the Women’s Sprint and Pursuit races. Spc. Jordan McElroy of the Vermont National Guard who took first in the Junior Men’s Sprint and Pursuit races. Pfc. Elise Putnam of the Washington National Guard won first place in the Junior Women’s Sprint and Pursuit races.
For the team events the Minnesota National Guard team consisting of; Staff Sgt. Frank Gangi, Sgt. Jacob Dalberg, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Derek Lindberg and Lt. Col. Paul Peterson took first place in the Patrol race. The winning team for the Relay race was the Vermont National Guard team including; Spc. Jordan McElroy, Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Westover, Staff Sgt. Brian Letourneau and Staff Sgt. Jesse Downs. The Vermont National Guard also won first place for the team cups for the second year in a row, a prize awarded to the best overall performing teams.
Cray closed out the event by once again thanking the athletes and support teams for their effort and asking the competitors to push forward with the program as they return to their home states. Cray stressed the importance of what the athletes bring to the Guard; dedication, a strong sense of service, and asked they share that level of commitment with their home units.
“Be the champions we know you are,” said Cray. “The discipline you have displayed this week is a true testament to who you are and what you represent. I ask that you lead by example, share your skills, your knowledge and your enthusiasm for what you do. With your support our organization can only grow and improve.”
| Date Taken: | 03.05.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 03.13.2015 10:50 |
| Story ID: | 156913 |
| Location: | JERICHO, VT, US |
| Web Views: | 53 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
This work, Biathlon Closes with Great Success, by A1C Dana Alyce-Schwarz, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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