GRP Biathletes Compete at IBU Cup; Dunklee Takes Silver at World Champs
Susan Dunklee earns a silver medal at World Champs in the sprint (photo: NordicFocus/USBA)
This past week and weekend the GRP had biathletes competing at World Champs in Antholz, Italy and at the IBU Cup in Martell, Italy.
World Champs:
World Champs kicked off with a mixed relay in which Susan Dunklee and Clare Egan were joined by USBA teammates Leif Nordgren and Sean Doherty. Susan scrambled and started the team off strong with clean shooting (no spares). She tagged off to Clare who used one spare in prone and two in standing. The team finished 13th with no penalties and 9 spares.
Next up was a sprint race. For the woman, Susan tied her best-ever World Champs finish rocketing her way onto the podium in second place with clean shooting. Clare also had a strong day placing 26th with two standing misses. Emily placed 73rd also with two misses. For the men, Jake Brown finished 68th narrowly missing the pursuit cut-off.
In the pursuit, Susan had a strong start with clean shooting in her first and third stages, but after a difficult fourth stage she dropped back to 36th. Clare also had rough day dropping down to 46th. Racing action kept rolling with the women’s individual event. Susan finished 55th with Clare close behind in 58th and Emily in 69th. Stay tuned for Jake in the men’s individual race tomorrow (2/19)!
World Champs will continue with the single mixed relay on Feb 20th, men’s and women’s relays on Feb 22, and mass starts on Feb 23rd.
IBU Cup:
Meanwhile in Martell the IBU Cup kicked off with a SuperSprint. Kelsey Dickinson was the only biathlete competing for the GRP in the event. She shot well cleaning both stages and placing 36th just shy of qualifying for the heats. Next up was a sprint in which Hallie Grossman placed 50th with three misses. She was followed by Kelsey in 64th. For the men, Alex Howe finished 42nd with two standing misses. Hallie and Alex both qualified for the pursuit in which Halie was lapped and Alex finished 46th with 4 misses (one per stage).
Next up for the IBU Cup athletes is Open Euro Champs in Belarus starting on February 25th.
More info and results here. Thanks for following!
Jake Brown competing at World Champs (photo: NordicFocus/USBA)