GRP World Cup Biathlon Squad Wraps Up Season in Sweden

Jake Brown, Clare Egan and Susan Dunklee wrapped up the IBU World Cup Biathlon season in Oestersund, Sweden with Sprint and Pursuit competitions. 

Clare and Susan got things going with a 7.5km Sprint race. Starting bib 24, Clare set a fast pace on the first lap, entering the range in the top 25. A single mistake in prone dropped her back to 44th. Egan was forced to enter the penalty loop one more time after missing a standing shot. A fast run around the last 2.5km circuit secured 51st place and a start spot in the next day’s Pursuit race. 

Susan’s sprint began with a steady first loop, bringing her into the first shooting stage in 37th place. 3 misses in prone, pushed Susan down the order, but Dunklee continued to fight hard over the course of the second loop. After picking up a few places, Susan again picked up 3 penalty loops, this time in standing. Susan showed her speed on the final loop and moved up the ranks to finish in 99th. 

Jake Brown’s Sprint competition got off to a solid start, with Brown entering the first shooting bout in 24th place. Clean shooting moved him up the order to 20th place. Fast skiing over the next 3.3km placed Jake in 10th going into the standing shooting stage. One miss dropped Brown to 32nd place. Jake turned on the jets on the last 3.3km lap, moving up 10 places to finish 22nd on the day. Brown turned in the 10th fastest ski time in the race, and secured qualification for the Pursuit.  

Clare Egan’s pursuit race started with a quick first lap and a clean prone stage, progressing her to 40th place. Solid skiing and a single prone miss placed Egan in 42nd after the second shooting stage. More solid skiing and only one standing miss moved Clare up to 34th after shooting standing for the first time. Two misses in the last stage and a fast last lap combined to place Clare in 41st place at the end of a windy and challenging competition.  

Jake Brown’s Pursuit race began with the GRP biathlete holding steady through the first loop and picking up a single penalty in prone. This mistake dropped Jake back to 27th place. Despite a fast second lap, two more prone penalties pushed Brown further down the order into 36th. Another fast lap and another two misses meant Jake dropping to 43rd place. Jake again missed twice in very windy conditions but stayed stable in 44th. A blistering fast lap moved Brown up to 38th on difficult shooting day.

With US Nationals optional for National Team athletes, the GRP World Cup squad will join their IBU Cup counterparts in the US for some much needed rest and recovery.