GRP Women Close Out Winter Olympics 2018
Susan Dunklee looking strong and fierce in the first leg of the women's 4x6k biathlon relay (Photo Steve Fuller/Flying Point Road Photography)
Caitlin Patterson working with US skier Rosie Frankowski in the 30k classic (Photo Scott Patterson)
Last Updated: 26.Feb.2018
Prior to even starting their events at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, the Green Racing Project women had already set a record: the highest number of GRP members ever to qualify for an Olympics, at six (the previous number being three at the 2014 Games in Sochi). However, they weren’t just there to participate. In the final days of the games, the GRP women put in strong performances to close out their two weeks in Korea on a positive note.
February 22- 4x6k Women’s Biathlon Relay
When the US women’s relay team was announced for for the final biathlon event of the Games, 3 out of 4 of the women in the lineup were from the GRP. Susan Dunklee scrambled and skied a brilliant leg. She cleaned in prone and led most of the second lap, and then used one spare in standing. Susan tagged off to Clare Egan in 2nd place. Egan went on to ski one of her best races of the season. She cleaned without using spares in both her prone and standing stages and held onto fourth place while skiing with some of the strongest biathletes in the world. The third biathlete from the US, Joanne Reid, tagged off to Emily Dreissigacker. Dreissigacker used 2 spares in prone and 3 in standing, and crossed the finish line in 13th place.
With the Olympics behind them, the GRP women will compete in the last few World Cups of the year in Finland and Norway starting on March 8. Results from the Olympic relay are available on the Biathlon Datacenter.
February 25- Women’s 30k Classic Mass Start
After finishing 34th in the first event of the Olympics, the 15k skiathlon, Caitlin Patterson waited patiently for the duration of the games to start her second race. Over two weeks later, she was able to represent the US in the 30k classic mass start. She improved on her Olympic debut and finished 26th as fourth American. Results from the 30k classic and the rest of the Olympics cross country events are available on FIS-ski.com, and those who want to watch replays of the races should check CrossCountryski.Us for video links. Although it didn't include any GRP members, we highly recommend watching the women's team sprint to see the US end a 42 year old medal drought with gold!
Following the Olympics, the cross country World Cup moves to Finland, with races starting back up on March 3. Ida Sargent, Caitlin Patterson, and Kaitlynn Miller will represent the US in the last period on the World Cup, which includes stops in Finland, Norway, and Sweden.