World Cup biathletes compete at PI venue
By Kevin Sjoberg
Sports Reporter
PRESQUE ISLE — The E.ON IBU World Cup Biathlon made its way to the Nordic Heritage Center over the weekend, and France’s Alexis Boeuf and Norway’s Tora Berger capping the weekend off with victories in the pursuit competition Sunday.
Biathlon is a sport that combines cross country skiing with rifle shooting
Boeuf came from behind and used his shooting accuracy to beat Ivan Tcherezov of Russia across the finish line by 10.3 seconds in the 12.5-kilometer race. He was 14.3 seconds faster than Sweden’s Carl Johan Bergman and 24.4 ahead of Friday’s sprint winner, Arnd Peiffer of Germany.
Boeuf missed just two targets during the morning race.
Photo courtesy Tim and Cheri Doak/SouthShoreImages.com
LOCAL FAVORITE — Team USA’s Lowell Bailey was one of the most well-known biathletes at Presque Isle as he has trained with Maine Winter Sports Center in the past. Sunday’s pursuit race was made more challenging for Bailey and others as nearly a foot of new snow had fallen during the night and a stiff wind was blowing.
Lowell Bailey had started in 21st position, but moved up to 16th with a time of 38:26.5 and led the United States.
Berger, competing in tough conditions during the women’s race that afternoon, had a time of 35:12.1 to take the victory. Marie Dorin of France finished as runner-up in 35:42.8, with Darya Domracheva of Belarus third in 36:23.3 and Magdalena Neuner of Germany fourth in 36:56.9.
Berger missed four targets during her run as the wind picked up for the women’s 10K event.
For Team USA, Sara Studebaker fashioned the best time in 38:57.5, good for 28th overall. Haley Johnson was 38th and Laura Spector 45th for the host country.
In Friday’s 10K sprint, Pieffer came in with a time of 25:28.8 and was perfect on the shooting range. Martin Fourcade of France was the runner-up in 25:44.7, followed by Tcherezov in third and Tarjei Boe of Norway in fourth.
HOT PURSUIT — Team USA’s Leif Nordgren (47) makes a move on Austrian Friedrich Pinter (45) during the men’s 12.5-kilometer pursuit race Sunday at the Nordic HeritageCenter in Presque Isle.
Bailey led the U.S. by placing 25th in 27:18.7. Teammate Jay Hakkinen was 28th in 27:26.6, followed by Leif Nordgren in 47th, Jeremy Teela in 53rd and Zach Hall in 70th.
Sweden’s Helena Ekholm won the 7.5K women’s sprint in 20:38.7. She was also flawless on the range. Berger was second, 10.5 seconds behind, whie Valz Semerenko of Ukraine placed third in 20:58.1 and Michela Ponza of Italy fourth in 21:00.7.
SKATE AWAY — Competing for Team USA during the 10K women’s pursuit was Haley Johnson, who has trained at MWSC.
Johnson was the top U.S. biathlete by placing 42nd in 22:41.7. Spector ended up 52nd in 23:49.4
The middle day of the competition Saturday featured the mixed relay. Germany was the winner, covering the 27 kilometers in 1 hour, 13 minutes and 31.6 seconds. France was the runner-up in 1:13:59.5 and Russia placed third in 1:14:33.
Team USA, made up of Studebaker, Johnson, Hakkinen and Teela, placed seventh in 1:16:18.8.
In the World Cup standings through 16 of 26 events, Norway’s Boe is the men’s leader with 679 points, while Emil Hegle Svendsen, also of Norway is second with 592. Bailey leads the way for the United States with 131 points, good for 38th overall.
Ekholm is the women’s leader with 637 points, with Kaisa Makarainen of Finland second just seven points back.
Spector is 41st and leads the way for the United States with 89 points.
The 10th Mountain Ski Center in Fort Kent will host the next World Cup events, beginning with the sprints on Thursday.
