GRP Biathletes Race Canadian Biathlon Championships and World Cup Finals

Susan competing in the sprint race at World Cup finals in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia (photo: USBA/NordicFocus)

The GRP relay team of Alex, Emily, and Casey placed second at Canadian Biathlon Championships (photo: Sam Dougherty)

Last Updated: 23.Mar.2016

Canadian Biathlon Championships

Last week GRP biathletes traveled to Valcartier, Quebec to compete at Canadian Biathlon Championships. The competition was stiff with Canadian World Cup biathletes in attendance. The first race of the championship event was a sprint. On the men's side, Alex Howe was the top GRP-athlete placing 6th. He was followed by Casey Smith in 7th, Mike Gibson in 8th, and Ethan Dreissigacker in 11th. For the women, Emily Dreissigacker raced to a solid 4th place finish followed by Hallie Grossman in 5th.

The following day was a pursuit. Emily and Hallie held their positions from the sprint finishing 4th and 5th respectively. Casey led the way for the GRP men with an 8th place finish. He was followed by Alex in 9th, Mike in 10th, and Ethan in 11th.

In the 3-person mixed relay, the GRP team of Alex, Emily, and Casey placed second. Alex and Casey cleaned both stages and Emily had two standing misses. The team of Ethan and Siena Ellingson of Loppet Nordic Racing placed 5th. Ethan had one standing miss in his first leg and cleaned in his second leg.

World Cup

Last week World Cup finals kicked off in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia with a sprint on Thursday. Susan Dunklee and Clare Egan were the only American women in attendance. Susan raced to 25th place. She missed two in prone, but cleaned standing and had the 10th fastest course time. Clare came very close to qualifying for the pursuit in 63rd.

In the pursuit, Susan moved up three places to finish 22nd overall. She cleaned both prone stages, missed three in her first standing stage, but made a strong comeback with only one miss in her second standing stage.

Unfortunately the mass start competition was cancelled due to dangerously high winds. Susan finished the season in 14th on the overall 2015/16 World Cup Ranking list with Hannah in 53rd and Clare in 67th.

Results can be found at biathlonworld.com.

All GRP biathletes will wrap up their season at U.S. Biathlon Nationals starting this week in Fort Kent, Maine.