Clean Sweep for Italy at 22nd FIL Youth Games Last weekend it was time for the kids to race for titles in 8 different categories in the FIL Youth Games. The 22nd edition of the Games was held in Schleis in Italy on the 862 meters long “Siebenbruenn” track. Just like in the adults’ class the dominance of the Italian athletes was impressive. Only Germany – with one silver and one bronze medal - could prevent the total success of South Tyrol’s offspring. Novice 1: Only one girl participated, so the title went to Annalena Waldboth (ITA) from Latsch. In the boy’s race Alex Gufler (ITA) from Passeier dominated the race. Even with the fastest time in the second run Nikolai Plangger (ITA) from Schleis could not beat him. Daniel Gruber (ITA), also from Schleis, finished third. Novice 2: Nina Zoeggeler (ITA) from Voellan won her second consecutive title in the FIL Youth Games. Artificial track superstar Armin Zoeggeler’s daughter upset runner up Verena Hofer from Feldthurns (ITA) and bronze medallist Selina Stecher from Latsch (ITA) clearly. Lukas Gasser (ITA) achieved the fastest times in both runs and won ahead of Mark Prünster (ITA/Passeier) und Moritz Trocke (ITA/Voels). Youth 1: Sandra Pliger (ITA) from Feldthurns put an end to Theresa Maurer’s (GER) winning streak. She had won four titles in FIL Youth Games and was in the lead before Sandra Pliger claimed the title for herself and Maurer, the young athlete from Garmisch-Partenkirchen had to settle for silver. Katja Angerer (ITA/Laas) finished third. Lukas Hofer from Passeier (ITA) won the boy’s race ahead of two lugers from Wallburg (ITA), Elias Staffler and Felix Scharz. Youth 2: The small margin of only eight hundredths of a second separated local hero Juliane Abart from the gold medal. However, eventually she had to settle for the silver medal. Gold went to Carmen Planoetscher from Voels (ITA). Martina Rowold (GER) finished third. Theo Gruber (ITA/Villanders) had no problems in claiming his title ahead of Thomas Unterholzner from Voellan (ITA) und Andy Clara from Longiarü (ITA).