U.S.A. Biathlon

ANTHOLZ-ANTERSELVA, Italy (January 22, 2012) – Team USA closed the E.On IBU World Cup 6 in Antholz-Anterselva today with a top-10 finish in the Men’s 4X7.5K Relay.

The realy team – comprised of Lowell Bailey (Lake Placid, NY), Jay Hakkinen (Kasilof, AK), Tim Burke (Paul Smiths, NY) and anchored by Leif Nordgren (Marine, MN) – finished 10th today, with a time of 1:14.49.4 (0+2+2+9), 2:34 minutes back from Team France (Beatrix, S. Fourcade, Boeuf, M. Fourcade) posting 1:12:14.7 (0+3+0+4). Team Germany (Roesch, Birnbacher, Graf, Peiffer) took second with 1:12:26.7 (0+2+1+7), and Team Austria (Eder, Eberhard, Mesotitsch and Landertinger) was third at 1:12:56.4 (0+2+0+7).

“Today was not perfect, but it highlighted some of our strengths, such as Lowell in second place until standing, I shot fast and well,Tim skied amazingly fast, and Leif showed he is strong under pressure,” said Hakkinen. “ I think it was an ideal race to give us confidence and show what we need to work on going into the short one week break before the next World Cup in Oslo.”

Extended results from the Men’s Relay are available http://teamusa.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=4e13d7cca44417f617184bfd1&id=4afae39e03&e=bd75b505fb

Women’s Mass Start

Susan Dunklee (Barton, VT) raced her first World Cup career Mass Start today, posting a time of 38:27.4 (0+2+0+3) to place 27th in the 12.5K race. Dunklee was 3:23.8 minutes back from Darya Domracheva (BLR), who won gold with a time of 35:03.6 (2+0+0+0). Anastasiya Kuzmina (SVK) was 2nd posting 35:28.8 (0+0+0+1), and World Cup leader Magdalena Nuener (GER) was 3rd at 35:35.7 (0+0+0+2).

“It was my first mass start, and I hope there will be many more to come,” said Dunklee. “My goal was to take in the experience and be patient the first few laps. I had a lot of fun skiing in a big pack, and cleaning a couple stages was a huge bonus.”

Extended results from the Women's Mass Start are available http://teamusa.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4e13d7cca44417f617184bfd1&id=53c95302db&e=bd75b505fb

Saturday’s Mass Start and Women’s Relay Recap

Burke and Bailey  raced for Team USA in yesterday’s15K Mass Start, finishing 20th (39.58.3/0+0+3+2) and 21st (39:58.7/1+0+0+2), respectively.

“Tim showed his terrific ski speed today - second only to Norway's Svendsen,” commented US Biathlon CEO Max Cobb. “He powered up to a 20th place and worked his way into 29th in the overall World Cup total score. Lowell had a decent performance, and his 21st place helped maintain his World Cup ranking - now in 16th place.”

Extended results from the Men’s Mass Start are available http://teamusa.us2.list-manage1.com/track/click?u=4e13d7cca44417f617184bfd1&id=556199cea0&e=bd75b505fb

The women finished 13th in Saturday’s relay with a time of 1:22:41.6 (3+8+0+5), 5:35.1 back from Team France (Brunet, Boilley, Bescond and Dorin Habert) posting 1:17.06.5 (0+3+0+6).

Sara Studebaker (Boise, ID) had a great start and handed off in 6th place, and Dunklee had a nice race using just two extra rounds and logged the 7th best last leg.

Studebaker had a very strong lead off leg, used only two extra rounds and tagged off in 6th place, only 6 seconds behind France who when on to win.  Dunklee had a strong anchor leg, also using just two extra rounds and logging the 7th best time for her leg.

“The women's team moved into 12th place in the Nations Cup score after the relay - a great step forward from last season,” added Cobb.

Extended results from the Women’s Relay are available http://teamusa.us2.list-manage2.com/track/click?u=4e13d7cca44417f617184bfd1&id=0683077aa6&e=bd75b505fb

On to Oslo

The E.ON IBU World Cup Series continues February 2-5, in Oslo, with racing in Sprint, Pursuit, and Mass Start events. A complete schedule of events is available http://teamusa.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=4e13d7cca44417f617184bfd1&id=cfbe56427f&e=bd75b505fb