The event was designed to provide an alternative national-level competition opportunity in place of North American Summer Biathlon Rollerski Championships & U.S. Trials races. The 2020 summer festival training & race week that brings together top athletes in North America was canceled this year due to concerns with the spread of Covid-19.
US Biathlon’s Sport Program Manager, Danika Frisbie, helped organize this year’s extraordinary event. "Our big summer festival race weekend in Jericho is the time when we come together as a biathlon community and reconnect after the winter, and is an excellent chance to check-in on how your training is progressing with quality head-to-head competition," says Frisbie. "We didn't want to lose that spirit and competition excitement, even though we couldn’t hold an in-person event."
In the virtual competition, competitors were required to complete a 3000 meter time trial on a track (1500m for U15 athletes) and a biathlon American test from their home club venues during the week of August 3-9. The American test consists of shooting four consecutive shooting stages as quickly and accurately as possible, alternating between prone and standing targets.
The “total finish" time for the competition was the combination of an athlete’s running test time and shooting test time, plus a 15 second time penalty for each miss in the shooting test.
Winners of each competition category (male and female) are listed below.
U.S. Biathlon will congratulate all competitors with a pair of race socks, the traditional race gift of the Jericho summer championships held each year and this year generously donated by the usual host club - Ethan Allen Biathlon Club. Additionally, prizes will be mailed directly to top-finishers in each competition category.
View the full competition results here. https://www.teamusa.org/US-Biathlon/Results/2020/2020-North-American-Biathlon-Virtual-Summer-Nationals
Photo credit Jeffrey Leopold
2020 North American Virtual Summer Biathlon Championship Winners by Category:
U15 (13-14)
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Sierra Munroe, Sovereign Lake Nordic Club, BC, Canada
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Elias Watson, Anchorage Biathlon Club, AK, USA
U17 (15-16)
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Saylor Landrum, Minnesota Biathlon, MN, USA
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Matej Cervenka, Mt. Itasca - Minnesota Biathlon, MN, USA
Youth (17-18)
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Kaisa Bosek, Minnesota Biathlon, MN, USA
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Sam Stertz, Mt. Itasca - Minnesota Biathlon, MN, USA
Juniors (19-21)
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Helen Wilson, Anchorage Biathlon Club, AK, USA
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Cedrick Wigger, Biathlon Estrie, QC, Canada
Seniors (22-34)
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Deedra Irwin, National Guard Biathlon/USBA, VT, USA
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Leif Nordgren, National Guard Biathlon/USBA, VT, USA
Masters (35-59)
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Christine Dillon, Ethan Allen Biathlon Club, VT, USA
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Matt Novakovich, Anchorage Biathlon Club, AK, USA
Grand Masters (60+)
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Ellen Hart, Colorado Biathlon Club, CO, USA
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Mark Torresani, Blackhawk Ski Club, MN, USA
Additional Competition Awards and Mentions:
U13 Honorable Mentions*
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Reine Soule, Anchorage Biathlon Club, AK, USA
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Tristan Thrasher, Steamboat Springs, CO, USA
Fastest Overall 3000m Time (top male and female finishers)
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Sam Stertz, 9:38 min/sec. Mt. Itasca/Minnesota Biathlon, MN, USA
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Cheresa Bouley, 11:03 min/sec. Minnesota Biathlon, MN, USA
Best Overall American Test result (fastest shooting time with less than 3 penalties)
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Liam Connon, 1:24 min/sec. with 2 penalties. Nordic Performance Development Center, BC, Canada
Best finish by a coach member of US Biathlon or Biathlon Canada
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Best female: Maria Panfilova, total finish time 14:31
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Best male: Marc Sheppard, total finish time, 14:11
*U13 is not a typical racing category for USBA and Biathlon Canada, but top finishers are recognized here.
Photo credit Jeffrey Leopold
