SOLDIER HOLLOW — A serious case of nerves left many favorites to make the U.S. biathlon team for the 2002 Winter Games hoping they have a better day Sunday. Or they could be on the outside looking in come February.
"Everyone is kind of nervous and jittery," said Andrea Nahrgang of Heber City, a favorite to make the team who finished only fourth among the women.
On Saturday, many of America's top biathletes faltered in the first of four days of competition to see who will represent the United States in the Games. Leading the women's standings is relatively unknown 19-year-old Lanny Barnes, a junior team member from Colorado.
"It's good to have one great race under my belt," she said.
The points leader for the men was Lawton Redman, a two-time national champion who now lives in Heber City, where he has been training for the Winter Games.
Dan Campbell, a veteran biathlete from Minnesota who has never made the Olympic team, surprised everyone by finishing second, while former Olympian Dan Westover from Vermont finished third.
America's best biathlete, Jay Hakkinen from Alaska, placed sixth.
"Trials are always a surprise," Hakkinen said. "It's a battle overall."
Only the top four men's and women's biathletes will make the Olympic team, but with three more days of competition, Hakkinen knows there isn't much time left to make up lost ground.
Jeremy Teela, another top biathlete who moved to Heber City for training, stands in ninth place after Saturday's competition.
"This isn't my strong race," Teela said, adding he should be much stronger in the next three races.
America's top female biathlete, Rachel Steer, now a Park City resident, was disappointed in her second-place finish after the first day.
"All the favorites shot poorly," she said. "There is a lot of stress and pressure. This is a do-or-die, everything I have trained for the last four years."
Two Utahns and former Olympians — Deborah Nordyke of Heber and Kristina Sabasteanski, who now lives in Midway — finished sixth and 12th. Nordyke's husband, Curtis Schreiner, finished seventh in the men's competition.
In third place Saturday was former Olympian Kara Salmela of Minnesota. "I am happy with third, but it wasn't a great race," she said.
Saturday's race was 20 kilometers for men and 15 kilometers for women, all interspersed with four rounds where competitors fire rifles at five targets. None of the favorites fared well on the firing range, leading to penalties that added to their times.
Sunday's competition will feature sprint competitions — 10 kilometers for the men and 7.5 for the women.
"Biathlon is so unpredictable," Steer said. "It's just the first of four races. It's still young in the trials, and tomorrow is just a new day."
Biathlon Unofficial Results
Top Men:
Lawton Redman, Heber City, 55:17.7 (3 penalties)
Dan Campbell, Minnesota, 56:27.6 (3 penalties)
Dan Westover, Vermont, 56:38.7 (3 penalties)
Jesse Downs, Michigan, 57:07.7 (3 penalties)
Top Women:
Lanny Barnes, Colorado, 54:30.8 (2 penalties)
Rachel Steer, Park City, 54:53.8 (4 penalties)
Kara Salmela, Minnesota, 55:26.7 (6 penalties)
Andrea Nahrgang, Heber City, 55:41.3 (5 penalties)
E-mail: donna@desnews.com