"The Best Day Ever For U.S. Women's Team"

Biathlon: Oberhof

Sun, Jan  9, 2011 - By Viktoria Franke

After three weeks without racing Laura Spector came back strong in today's sprint competition in Oberhof, posting her personal best with a 19th place.

With tough and windy conditions at the shooting range the premise for a successful race was laid during shooting. With just one miss Spector was among the better ones at the range today: „In prone I took a few extra seconds because it is a really hard approach here and you don’t exactly know when you should start slowing down. In standing I also took my time – I guess that was a good idea.”

For the two U.S. women in Oberhof it was the first race since the last World Cup in Pokljuka since there was no U.S. quartet starting at the women’s relay. “It was nice to finally race again but I was a bit nervous on the track. The technicians did a great job with my skis today so the big downhill here in Oberhof got really fast. There was a lot of deep snow in the corner on the bottom of the hill. It actually was worse today since it got so warm but luckily I managed to stay on my feed.”

Sara Studebaker (photo: Viktoria Franke)

In the end Spector was back +1:50.8min behind today’s winner Ann Kristin Flatland. Sara Studebaker also finished within the World Cup points posting a 40th place with +2:37.9min behind the Norwegian winner. "I did have some trouble at standing because I used a bigger globe sight today. We thought it would be a good idea since it was so foggy the last days. But it didn't work out. Nevertheless it was a great race and the people here were simply amazing. I took out my earplugs when I came to the finish because I wanted to hear experience that atmosphere."

First Mass Start for U.S. Women

For Spector today’s result will also be the qualification for tomorrow’s mass start in Oberhof. According to team leader Bernd Eisenbichler that will be the first mass start for an athlete of the U.S. National Team in the World Cup. "Laura's qualification, Sara ranking within the World Cup points and the great results at today's IBU-Cup make today the best day in the history of the U.S. women's team."

At yesterday's team meeting Eisenbichler announced the bold goal: Mass Start qualification. "I know it was a daring announcement but it worked out in the end. I am really proud of the whole team."

Results World Cup

1  FLATLAND Ann Kristin Aafedt NOR   1+0  1   23:29.5   0.0
2  NEUNER Magdalena            GER   1+1  2   23:35.2   +5.7
3  HENKEL Andrea               GER   0+1  1   23:44.7   +15.2
19 SPECTOR Laura               USA   0+1  1   25:20.3   +1:50.8
40 STUDEBAKER Sara             USA   0+2  2   26:07.4   +2:37.

IBU-Cup: Strong results for U.S. women

Three women finished within the Top 20 at today's Individual competition in Nove Mesto. The IBU-Cup race was won by Ukrainian Natalya Burdyga, best US-athlete was Annalies Cook who finished 13th despite three penalty-minutes. Just seconds behind her Haley Johnson finished on rank 14th. Tracy Barnes posted yet another Top 20 result with her 19th place.

Results IBU-Cup

1  BURDYGA Natalya      UKR  0+1+1+0   2   47:15.9   0.0
2  HILDEBRAND Franziska GER  0+0+0+0   0   47:20.8   +4.9
3  DÖLL Juliane         GER  0+1+0+2   3   47:37.1   +21.2
13 COOK Annalies        USA  0+0+0+3   3   50:25.1   +3:09.2
14 JOHNSON Haley        USA  1+2+0+0   3   50:29.3   +3:13.4
19 BARNES Tracy         USA  1+1+0+0   2   50:48.1   +3:32.2
48 DUNKLEE Susan        USA  2+1+2+0   5   54:51.9   +7:36.0