GRP Biathletes Post Standout Results at World Champs
Clare shoots standing (photo: NordicFocus)
Emily exits the range (photo: NordicFocus)
Last Updated: 19.Mar.2019
IBU World Championships wrapped up this past weekend in Oestersund, Sweden. Five GRP biathletes represented the US at this championship event which consisted of 7 races over 10 days.
Mixed Relay: Susan Dunklee and Clare Egan were joined by USBA teammates Sean Doherty and Leif Nordgren in the mixed relay race. Susan scrambled for the team cleaning both stages and using 5 spares. She tagged off to Clare who also cleaned both her stages using 3 spares. The team placed 19th with three penalty laps and a total of 13 spares.
Sprint: In the women’s sprint race, Clare had an outstanding performance placing 11th with just one prone miss. Susan placed 57th. In the men’s race, Jake Brown finished 58th cleaning the prone stage in his World Champs debut. All three athletes qualified for the follow day’s pursuit race.
Pursuit: In the pursuit, Clare moved back one place to finish 12th with 5 misses. Susan moved up considerably finishing 24th with 3 misses. For the men, Jake also moved up placing 53rd with 7 misses.
Individual: In the individual race, Susan was the top GRP finisher placing 30th with 3 misses. She cleaned her first shooting stage. Clare placed 53rd with 5 misses. In the men’s race, Jake placed 68th.
Single Mixed: In the single mixed relay, Susan was joined by USBA teammate Sean Doherty. Susan cleaned her first three shooting stages with no spares and then used two spares in her final stage. The duo placed 13th with a one penalty lap and total of 7 spares.
Women’s Relay: In the women’s relay, Susan, Clare, and Emily Dreissigacker were joined by USBA teammate Joanne Reid. Susan gave the team a strong start with fast skiing and accurate shooting. She used one spare and tagged off to Clare in podium contention. Clare also had a strong leg shooting clean with no spares and tagging off to Joanne in the lead. Emily anchored the team in her inaugural World Champs appearance. The team placed 9th with a total of 2 penalties and 5 spares for their best-ever women’s relay World Champs performance.
Men’s Relay: In the men’s relay, Jake and Alex Howe were joined by USBA teammates Leif Nordgren and Max Durtschi. Jake skied the second leg and Alex, in his first World Champs race, skied the third. Both men had strong performances each cleaning their respective shooting stages and only using two spares each.
Mass start: Clare was the only GRP athletes to qualify for the mass start. She had a solid race placing 26th with 5 misses.
World Cup racing action concludes next weekend with the final World Cup of the season hosted at the iconic Holmenkollen stadium in Oslo Norway. For more information and full results please visit biathlonworld.com.