Category Archives: International

European Biathlon #10

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Hi Everyone-
A short note tonight.

In the Sprint races at Nove Mesto in the Open European Jr Championships, as you may recall from the last report, Vasek Cervenka from Mt Itasca Biathlon was the only US team member to make the top 60 and thus move on to the Pursuit race yesterday. So he started with his time back from the Sprint, 1:24 behind the first out. With the rest of the team on the course cheering him on, Vasek finished in 29th, shooting 2,1,0,1 and finishing 3:52 behind the winner, M Zemlincka of the Czech Republic who started in 5th and shot 0,0,1,1 and finished the 12.5km race in 36:06.6.

For the next two weeks the US athletes will stay in Nove Mesto which is SE of Prague, training daily now for the Youth and Junior Championships which start on Wednesday, Feb 22nd with the Youth Individual Races. On the 23rd will be the Junior Individual races which in some years have been streamed online. Watch for those. Generally the Youth events have not been televised.

So on Sunday the 19th the Youth and Junior team will move to Brezno-Osrblie, Slovakia, to get used to the venue, test skis and shift to prerace training routines for the next few days before the races start.

Meanwhile, on this Thursday the 9th of Feb at 7:45 our time, the World Championships will begin with the Mixed Relay. These will, of course, be televised live and available to watch later on EuroSport. Senior Worlds this year are in Hochfilzen, Austria. Events are scheduled daily except Mon/Tues the 13/14th and run through the 19th. The US will have a full roster of seniors at these events.

Enjoy—more later
Bill Meyer

European Biathlon #9

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Hi Everyone-
Big weekend for biathlon in Slovakia at Orsblie and in Czech Republic at Nove Mesto.

Yesterday, the Seniors in the IBU Cup did a sprint race, followed today by a Pursuit which is based on the results of the sprint. And only the top 60 advance then have to start with their time back from yesterday.

In the Women’s 7.5km Sprint Emily Dreissigacker shot 0,1 and finished in 28th 2:22 back. Hallie Grossman shot 2,4 and finished in 48th 4:40 back.
In the Men’s 10km Paul Schommer shot 1,1 and finished 2:27 back in 38th place. Jakob Ellingson , 2,2; 54th and 3:26 back. Alex Howe 3,2; 3:31 back in 57th and Russell Currier 3,4 in 65th and 4:30 back. Russell did not advance.

In today’s Women’s 10km pursuit, Emily Dreissigacker shot 0,1,1,1, and finished in 25th 4:39 back. Grossman was lapped and pulled from the race.
In the Men’s 12.5km Paul finished in 39th, shooting 2,2,0,0 and 5:36 back. Jakob shot 1,1,0,1 for 45th 6:45 behind. Alex Howe was lapped.

At Nove Mesto, the Women’s 7.5 km Sprint, they skied early [3:00 am our time] with Siena Ellingson taking the top US position, 62nd, shooting 1,1 and finishing 3:25 behind the Czech winner, Davidova shooting 0,1 and finishing in 22:24. Chloe Levins was next, 0,2 in 67th place 3:44 behind. Amanda Kautzer shot 3,1, 6:04 back for 91st. So none of the women will advance.

In the Men’s 10km Sprint, Vasek Cervenka put together the best race for the US, shooting 1,0 for 25th, 1:23 behind the winner, N Porshnev of Russia who missed one shot and finished in 27:26.
Travis Cooper missed 2,2 and finished in 66th , 3:40 back. Cody Johnson 0,2 for 76th, 4:30 back and Cam Christiansen, 1,1 for 79th, 4:35 back.

So to finish the Open European Junior Championships, Vasek will be the only entry in the Pursuit races tomorrow.

The next events will be the Youth and Junior World Championships in Orsblie, Slovakia beginning with Youth [15,16,17,18 yr olds] on the 22nd in Individual races and the Juniors [19,20 yr olds] in Individual races on the 23rd. Several more from the US will be joining those who have been currently racing to fill out the teams for the Worlds .

Bill Meyer