Today saw the Youth class relays at the Youth and Junior Biathlon World Championships in Orsblie, Slovakia.

In the Youth Men’s 3 x 7.5 km event the USA finished 15th, 4:47.9 behind winner Germany.
Germany’s 3 athletes used only 5 spare rounds total [in a relay each athlete must use up to 3 extra single rounds after the 5 round magazine in each shooting stage, if all the targets were not hit] and the team finished in 1:01:50.6. The USA’s team used 14 extras and still had to do 2 penalty loops.

Garrett Beckrich will be skiing tomorrow with the Junior Men in the 4 x 7.5 event as one of the Junior athletes has been sick all week.

In the Youth Women’s 3 x 6.0 km event, the US finished 19th, 7:22 behind winner Norway, who only used 3 extra rounds and finished in 57:19.2
Emma Stertz had a good first leg—using only 3 extras and handing off in the middle of the pack. Lina Ferra struggled in standing using a total of 4 extra rounds and still needing 2 penalty loops before heading back to the course. Helen Wilson finished up using 3 extras.

So the next events will be tomorrow am with the Junior Men followed by the Junior Women. Then after a day break, the Youth Men and Women will do the Sprint events on Friday, the Juniors on Saturday and then all will do pursuit events on Sunday.

It’s a long tough week!!
Bill Meyer, Coach
MNBiathlon