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Steamboat Springs — The pigtail braids -- held together by plastic pink flowers -- couldn't hide the scowl on Hannah Kearney's face.

This was the 2006 U.S. Olympic Team Trials, and her first moguls run was unacceptable.

"I was disappointed with my quality of skiing," she said.

The 19-year-old from Nor--wich, Vt., seized the moment on her second run, scoring a 26.66 out of 30 points to win Friday's competition and claim an automatic spot on the 2006 U.S. Olympic Freestyle Team.

Jillian Vogtli of Ellicotville, N.Y., was a close second at 26.40. Reno's Shelly Robertson finished third at 26.37.

Kearney's sub-par qualifying run forced her to ski third in the finals. In the finals, she landed a Heli-X on her top air and a backflip Iron Cross on her bottom air and skied much better on the bumps to score 26.66. But she had to stand off to the side and watch seven teammates come down Voo Doo ski run and try to knock her off the podium.

"That was the most nervous I have been, I think," Kearney said. "It is a giant relief."

The 2006 Olympics will be Kearney's first, but she already has had international success. Kearney won gold at the 2005 World Championships and won two World Cups in 2004.

U.S. Freestyle Head Coach Jeff Wintersteen thinks Kearney is one of the top moguls skiers in the world.

"But I'm biased," he said. "She learned a lot today. I hope she skis to her potential in Torino."

With her trademark glitter eye shadow, 2002 Olympic silver medalist Shannon Bahrke looked every bit as tough as she did four years ago. At 25, she has missed most of the past two seasons with injuries. On Friday, with a smile stretching from ear to ear, Bahrke said she finally is skiing pain free, but she knows she has to earn her way back on the Olympic team.

"It's all about results," she said. "You've got to prove it and get back on the podium."

On Friday, Bahrke finished fourth, landing a backflip Iron Cross on her top air and a D-spin on her bottom air to score a 26.31. Bahrke first landed the D-spin nearly two years ago and is getting back to form.

"I'm going to ski how I want to ski," Bahrke said about doing the more difficult D-spin trick.

Steamboat's Eliza Outtrim and Emiko Torito also took part in Friday's competition. This is Outtrim's first year on the U.S. Ski Team, and Friday's competition was a thrill.

"For me, it was a pretty low-pressure event," she said.

Neither Outtrim nor Torito placed in the top five Friday.