By U.S. Ski Team

WINTER PARK, Colo. – Sixteen-year-old junior racer Mikaela Shiffrin (Burke Mountain, VT) took a first run lead to victory in the women’s slalom to close the 2011 Putnam Investments U.S. Alpine Championships in snowy Winter Park.

On Saturday evening, Shiffrin was awarded the Ski Racing Magazine Junior of the Year award at the annual athlete banquet sharing the honor with Ryan Cochran-Siegle (Starksboro, VT). Four-time Olympian Sarah Schleper (Vail, CO), 32, was second and earned the combined title with the fastest paired super G and slalom times. Resi Stiegler was third, matching her younger brother Seppi’s result in the men’s slalom. The top scoring region in the four-day championships was the West, earning the Tom Garner Memorial Trophy.

Official results, Putnam Investments U.S. Alpine Championships, Winter Park, April 3

Slalom

1. Mikaela Shiffrin, Burke Mountain, VT, 1:42.14

2. Sarah Schleper, Vail, CO, 1:42.14

3. Resi Stiegler, Jackson Hole, WY, 1:43.95

–

Juniors

1. Mikaela Shiffrin, Burke Mountain, VT, 1:42.14

2. Devin Delaney, North Conway, NH, 1:48.25

3. Lizzie Kistler, Santa Rosa, CA, 1:48.37

Combined

1. Sarah Schelper, Vail, CO

2. Laurenne Ross, Klamath Falls, OR

3. Kiley Staples, Park City, UT

–

Juniors

1. Sydney Staples, Park City, UT

2. Emma Naatz, Salt Lake City, UT

3. Lila Lapanja, Incline Village, NV

Tom Garner Memorial Trophy

1. Western Region – 2969

2. Eastern Region – 1674

3. Rocky/Central Region – 1416