Burke and Kocher are FasterSkier Biathletes of the Year

FasterSkier Biathlete of the Year

The FasterSkier Biathlete of the Year is awarded to the top North American biathletes.

Biathlete of the Year (men): Tim Burke (USA). Burke repeats as the male winner of the Biathlete of the Year Award. He started slowly, not cracking the top 20 in a World Cup race until late January. But he came on strong, showing the form that has made him the top North American biathlete for the last three years. He scored points in 13 of his last 14 points with top finishes of 8th and 9th.

Burke finished the season ranked 25th overall in the world, and placed 11th in the 10km sprint at World Championships in South Korea. Burke, a native of Paul Smiths, New York, lives and trains in Lake Placid. He has competed in five World Championships and was a member of the US Olympic Team in 2006.

Honorable Mention

Jean Philippe Le Guellec (CAN). Le Guellec finished the season ranked 32nd in the overall World Cup standings. He had 13 point-scoring races, including a season-best 7th in Antholz, Germany and an 8th in Hochfilzen early in the year. The 23-year-old Le Guellec is a former Youth World Champion and was a member of the Canadian Olympic Team in 2006.

Jeremy Teela (USA). Teela posted the best US result since 1992 when he finished 3rd in the 20km on the Olympic course in Whistler, British Columbia.

Tim Burke on his way to 8th place in Khanty-Mansiysk

Jean Philippe Le Guellec (CAN) on the World Cup (Photo: Christian Manzoni)

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Biathlete of the Year (women): Zina Kocher (CAN). Kocher led all North American women with an overall World Cup ranking of 41. She scored points in 12 races this season, including a string of seven straight mid-season. Her top finish of 20th came in the 7.5km sprint in Trondheim, Norway in March and she skied to 24th place in the 10km pursuit at the World Championships in South Korea.

Kocher is a veteran of eight World Championships and one Olympics. The 26-year-old races out of Canmore, and has six career World Cup top-10 finishes, including a third in 2007.