Barnes Sisters Both 10-for-10 in Sprint Biathlon
Sat, Mar 3, 2007 - By US Biathlon Association
Lahti, Finland, March 2. Lanny and Tracy Barnes (Durango, CO) both shot
clean in the 7.5K Sprint today marking the first time this season two
US athletes had perfect shooting in the same competition.
For Lanny who finished 54th, it was her first perfect shooting day of the season. “It was a long time coming, but it is always nice to shoot clean,” she commented. When told Tracy also shot clean, she seemed more thrilled for her sister than herself, pumping her fist in the air and running to greet her sibling at the finish. Lanny finished 2:59.7 behind Martina Glagow of Germany who won in a time of 21:18.3. The former World Champion nicked teammate Kati Wilhelm by 4 seconds and Russian Ekaterina Iourieva by 5.9 seconds. The top three women all were perfect on the shooting range.
For Lanny who finished 54th, it was her first perfect shooting day of the season. “It was a long time coming, but it is always nice to shoot clean,” she commented. When told Tracy also shot clean, she seemed more thrilled for her sister than herself, pumping her fist in the air and running to greet her sibling at the finish. Lanny finished 2:59.7 behind Martina Glagow of Germany who won in a time of 21:18.3. The former World Champion nicked teammate Kati Wilhelm by 4 seconds and Russian Ekaterina Iourieva by 5.9 seconds. The top three women all were perfect on the shooting range.
With a look of relief on her face at the finish and a spot in the Pursuit guaranteed, Barnes added, “I felt better skiing today than in the Individual. Nothing dramatic, but better. The tracks were faster today, as the new snow was starting to glaze and that improved the skiing.”
Tracy, the last starter today finished 59th, 3:14 back, in the next-to-last qualifying spot for Sunday’s Pursuit competition. Asked if the double clean shooting was planned, she rolled her eyes, replying, “Of course…” This was Tracy’s fourth perfect shooting day of the season.
Denise Teela (Anchorage, AK) tried to match the Barnes sisters on the shooting range, but fell one shot short, with a single penalty in the standing stage. She finished in 69th place, 3:55.8 back.
The next competition in Lahti is the Men’s 10K Sprint on Saturday. The US Men are currently in 10th place in the Nations Cup standings, battling the Ukraine and Italy for a spot in the top eight at the end of the season. A top eight finish at the end of the season guarantees an additional starter in all World cup competitions next season.
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