Burns wins state skiing title

The West Linn Tidings, Mar 11, 2010

SUBMITTED PHOTO

McKenzie Burns, right, celebrates with teammate Maddie Martus moments after learning she won the giant slalom event at the skiing state championships by one hundredth of a second.

Perhaps the best season in school history for West Linn's ski teams got even better last week at the state championships.

McKenzie Burns capped a dominating year by winning the all around individual state championship with a dramatic win in the giant slalom and a third place finish in the slalom.

West Linn's Alec Ramsey took third place in the all around competition for the boys and, as a team, the West Linn boys finished fourth. The West Linn girls took sixth and the teams combined to finish in sixth place overall as well.

The championships began last Thursday with the slalom event.

Burns finished her first run in second place. But, in her second run, even though she turned in a faster time, she was narrowly passed by Oregon Episcopal School's Alicia McCord, who beat Burns for second place by just four hundredths of a second.

Hood River's Ricki Swearingen ran away with the competition, winning by more than three and a half seconds.

Also in the slalom, Maddie Martus took 26th while Jackie Steeh also placed in the top 50.

Then, on Friday, it was time for the giant slalom. Once again, Burns put in a solid opening run and found herself in second place.

But she was more than seven tenths of a second behind Bend's Ciara Timm. With a lot of ground to make up, Burns let loose in her second run.

Again she turned in the second fastest time behind South Eugene's Ellie Mattson but she made up the difference between her and Timm.

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