Dunklee on the Podium in Single Mixed Relay, GRP Athletes Compete on the IBU Cup
March 8th through 14th 2021 was a big weekend for the international biathlon racing circuit and our GRP biathletes in Europe. This block of racing marked the conclusion of the IBU Cup circuit for the 2020-2021 season, and the penultimate weekend for the World Cup circuit.
The World Cup visited Nove Mesto na Morave, Czech Republic, where the athletes contended a sprint, pursuit, mixed relay, and single mixed relay. GRP biathlete Susan Dunklee started out the event strong, with clean shooting and fast skiing bringing her into 8th place in the Sprint. She continued with another strong 8thplace finish in the Pursuit, and paired with Sean Doherty for a 3rdplace finish in the mixed relay to cap off the weekend!
GRP athletes Jake Brown and Clare Egan also showed good form for the weekend, as Jake finished 33rd in the men’s Sprint with an 11th fastest course time, and Clare finished 43rd in the Sprint. Both Jake and Clare contended the pursuits, and on the final day of competition these two teamed up with Leif Nordgren and Joanne Reid to come in a very strong 6th place in the 4-person Mixed Relay.
From Susan Dunklee, a few great quotes on the sport of biathlon and her race weekend:
"There's a reason biathlon is such a compelling sport to follow," said Dunklee. "It's dramatic and the unpredictability adds to its appeal. We did two identical races one week apart: the same format, the same course, and the same competitors. Last week I placed 91st and this week I placed 8th. I didn't try any less hard last week or approach this week with any more professionalism. Variation is part of the sport. We love it because it is challenging. The highs are that much sweeter after overcoming the lows."
“I've been struggling most of the winter with my ski speed and for the first time in my career I've felt like I'm out of my league on the World Cup,” said Dunklee. “I really missed the feeling of being ‘in the mix’ on any given day. This week I feel good and able to hang on near the front. I'm not sure why my ski speed is coming into form so late in the season, but I am very happy about it. Nove Mesto has many special memories for me, and the amazing women's relay last week added some positive energy. Of course, we all miss the amazing spectators this year.”
The World Cup biathlon circuit is off to Ostersund, Sweden, for one final 3-day event to cap off the season. Follow along with result recaps here and live results and post-event summaries at biathlonresults.com.
World Cup results including USA finishes, with GRP athletes in bold. Place. Name. Time/+Misses
Men’s 10k Sprint 3/11/21
1. Quentin Fillon Maillet 22:07/+0
2. Tarje Boe +11.3/+0
3. L. Hofer +14.8/+0
32. Sean Doherty +1:26.7/ +1
33. Jake Brown +1:28.0/+3
61. Leif Nordgren +2:04.3/+1
65. Paul Schommer +2:17.1/+1
Women's 7.5km Sprint Results 3/12/21
1. Tiril Eckhoff (NOR) 18:11.1/+1
2. Denise Herrmann (GER) +6.1/+0
3. Dorothea Wierer(ITA) +10.5/+0
8. Susan Dunklee (USA) +37.2/+0
43. Clare Egan (USA) +1:34.7/+2
67. Joanne Reid (USA) +2:12.4/+3
77. Deedra Irwin (USA) +2:30.5/+2
Women’s Pursuit 3/13/21
1. Tiril Eckhoff (NOR) 27:13.6/+1
2. Dzinara Alimbekava (BLR)
3. Franziska Preuss (GER)
8. Susan Dunklee(Barton, Vt.) +1:12.9/+1
42. Clare Egan(Cape Elizabeth, Maine) +3:53.1/+4
Men’s Pursuit 3/13/21
1. Quentin Fillon Maillet 28:46.7/+2
2. Johannes T. Boe +8.0/+2
3. E. Jacquelin +14.6/+1
35. Sean Doherty +3:14.0/+4
53. Jake Brown +4:21.1/+5
Single Mixed Relay Results 3/14/21
1. Sweden 37:41.4
2.Norway +1.5/0+6
3. USA (Dunklee, Doherty) +26.1/0+7
Mixed Relay Results 3/14/21
1. Norway 1:01:24.1/0+4
2. Italy +1:08.7/0+10
3. Sweden +1:22.7/0+10
6. USA (Egan, Reid, Brown, Nordgren) +2:26.4/0+7
Also on the international scene, GRP athletes Raleigh Goessling, Kelsey Dickinson, and Hallie Grossman competed in the IBU Cup in Obertilliach, Austria, which featured a short individual, two sprints, a mixed relay and a single mixed relay. We are recognizing CNSC junior Bjorn Westervelt’s races here as well.
Highlights included Raleigh moving up from 47th in the March 12th sprint to 37th in the March 13th sprint, both with two misses. Hallie also climbed the results board between sprint 1 and sprint 2, with a 69th and then a 50th place in a stacked field of well over 100 women. Kelsey shot a clean race with no misses in the March 12th sprint.
Hallie noted that “the field was incredibly deep again, more like you’d except at Open European Championships rather than a typical IBU Cup. Many juniors stayed in Obertilliach after World Juniors and man, those youngun’s are good! Seeing the IBU Cup grow in strength over the last few years is really cool and bodes well for the future of the sport.”
The IBU Cup athletes are back in the US, where they’ll enjoy a restful quarantine and spring training break before starting to rebuild for next season.
All USA results, with GRP athletes in Bold. Place. Name. +Misses
Men’s 15k Short Individual 3/10/21
30. Campbell C. +2
37. Durtschi M. +3
58. Goessling Raleigh + 5
81. Cervenka V. +7
96. Brown L. +8
102. Westervelt Bjorn +9
Women’s 12.5k Short Individual 3/10/21
73. Levins C. +7
91. Maier M. +7
93. Grossman H. +11
94. Garso J. +8
103. Wilson H. +7
Men’s 10k Sprint 3/12/21
47. Goessling R. +2
50. Campbell C. +1
59. Westervelt B. +3
75. Brown L. +4
83. Cervenka V. +5
94. Durtschi M. +4
Women’s 10k Sprint 3/12/21
22. Levins C. +0
69. Grossman H. +2
79. Dickinson K. +0
83. Garso J. +3
104. Maier M. +4
117. Wilson H. +4
Men’s 10k Sprint 3/13/21
37. Goessling R. +2
39. Durtschi M. +1
64. Brown L. +4
66. Cervenka V. +3
84. Westervelt B. +4
101. Campbell C. +1
Women’s 10k Sprint 3/13/21
50. Grossman H. +2
56. Garso J. +1
59. Levins C. +3
94. Dickinson K. +2
106. Willson H. +3
110. Maier M. +6
Mixed Relay 3/14/21
19. Grossman, Garso, Goessling, Durtschi - Lapped
Single Mixed Relay 3/14/21
15. Levins, Campbell 3+9