Bjorn Westervelt shoots in a standing stage during the youth men's individual in Lenzerheide on Jan. 26, 2020 (photo by Jeffrey Leopold)
LENZERHEIDE, Switzerland (January 26, 2020) – The 2020 IBU Youth/Junior World Championships kicked off Sunday in Lenzerheide with the youth individual races. Bjorn Westervelt (Stowe, Vt./Craftsbury Biathlon) was the top American finisher in the youth men's 12.5-kilometer individual. Westervelt had five penalties on the shooting range and was 4 minutes, 23.8 seconds behind winner Martin Nevland of Norway. Nevland had three penalties and the fastest ski time by far to cross the line in 36:36.4. Damien Level of France, with one penalty, finished second, 12.9 seconds behind the winner, and his compatriot, Eric Perrot, was third, 30.7 seconds behind Nevland with two penalties.
Other Americans in the youth men's individual were Maxime Germain (Anchorage, Alaska/Anchorage Biathlon Club) in 38th, Sam Stertz (Grand Rapids, Minn./Mt. Itasca Biathlon) in 55th, and Tim Cobb (Westford, Vt./Ethan Allen Biathlon/Mansfield Nordic) in 89th.
Later in the day, in the youth women's individual, Lina Farra (Heber City, Utah/Team Soldier Hollow) was the top finisher for the U.S. in 52nd place, followed by Helen Wilson (Eagle River, Alaska/Anchorage Biathlon Club) in 67th, Kaisa Bosek (Alexandria, Minn./Minnesota Biathlon Wolfpack) in 70th, and Eva Weymuller (Winthrop, Wash./Methow Valley Biathlon) in 86th.
Switzerland's Lea Meier won the gold medal in the youth women's individual with two penalties in 33:52.4. Silver medalist Rebecca Passler of Italy was 12.7 seconds back with three penalties, while the bronze medal went to Austria's Anna Gandler, also with three penalties, 16.4 seconds behind Meier.
Competition continues on Monday with the junior men's and women's individual events. The junior men's 15km individual will feature Lars Hammernes Leopold (Truckee, Calif./Asker Ski Club), Garrett Beckrich (Grand Rapids, Minn./Mt. Itasca Biathlon/USBA Junior National Team), Vaclav Cervenka (Grand Rapids, Minn./U.S. National Guard/USBA Junior National Team) and Eli Nielsen (Stehekin, Wash./Crosscut Biathlon).
In the junior women's 12.5km individual, Chloe Levins (Rutland, Vt./USBA Junior National Team), Ariana Woods (Bozeman, Mont./Crosscut Mountain Sport Center) and Emma Stertz (Grand Rapids, Minn./College of Saint Scholastica) race for the U.S.
Full results at biathlonresults.com.
Youth Men’s 12.5km individual results
|
1. |
Martin Nevland (NOR) |
36:36.4/+3 |
|
2. |
Damien Levet (FRA) |
+12.9/+1 |
|
3. |
Eric Perrot (FRA) |
+30.7/+2 |
|
32. |
Bjorn Westervelt (Stowe, Vt./Craftsbury Biathlon) |
+4:23.8/+5 |
|
38. |
Maxime Germain (Anchorage, Alaska/Anchorage Biathlon Club) |
+4:58.4/+7 |
|
55. |
Sam Stertz (Grand Rapids, Minn./Mt. Itasca Biathlon) |
+6:17.9/+4 |
|
89. |
Tim Cobb (Westford, Vt./Ethan Allen Biathlon/Mansfield Nordic) |
+12:53.3/+10 |
Youth Women’s 10km individual results
|
1. |
Lea Meier (SUI) |
33:52.4/+2 |
|
2. |
Rebecca Passler (ITA) |
+12.7/+3 |
|
3. |
Anna Gandler (AUT) |
+16.4/+3 |
|
52. |
Lina Farra (Heber City, Utah/Team Soldier Hollow) |
+4:47.1/+5 |
|
67. |
Helen Wilson (Eagle River, Alaska/Anchorage Biathlon Club) |
+5:46.6/+6 |
|
70. |
Kaisa Bosek (Alexandria, Minn/Minnesota Biathlon Wolfpack) |
+6:07.1/+4 |
|
86. |
Eva Weymuller (Winthrop, Wash./Methow Valley Biathlon) |
+10:48.3/+9 |
