Kontiolahti, FINLAND – IBU World Cup racing resumes here this week following the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. The U.S. biathletes will compete in three World Cup events this month – Kontiolahti, Finland; Oslo, Norway and Khanty Mansiysk, Russia – before the season is over. For Tim Burke (Paul Smiths, N.Y.) the goal is clear – to return to the Top 10 in the Overall World Cup standings. “That’s were Tim belongs and we will...
American hopes for a medal in the men’s 10k biathlon sprint fell about as hard as the snow did in the middle of today’s race. 25 minutes into the event, the steady drizzle that came down throughout the morning morphed into a wild snow squall, slowing the skiing drastically and effectively squashing the chances of anyone still on course. The medalists in the race—France’s Vincent Jay, Norway’s Emil Hegle Svendsen, and Croatia’s Jakov Fak—all were...
While his Canadian teammates were out marching in front of their home crowd in Vancouver at the opening ceremonies for the 2010 Olympic Games, Devon Kershaw was alone, 60 miles away, watching them on a “fuzzy, little, little screen.” Kershaw got a small consolation prize, according to his Twitter feed—seeing his girlfriend, Chandra Crawford, a few times on that tiny television. But his decision to stay near Whistler was one faced by dozens of athletes...
“GreenLaces is a movement. It is an opportunity for elite athletes to promote environmental stewardship and conservation through their own behavior. . . . If you care about the environment and want to make a difference without having to compromise your training, this is one small way to do something positive with your athletic success.” – Lowell Bailey, Captain of Team GreenLaces: Vancouver 2010 Natalie Spilger is a professional soccer player for the Chicago Red...
NEW GLOUCESTER, Maine – The International Competition Committee of the U.S. Biathlon Association conducted a final review of results from the IBU Cup races in Altenberg, Germany this morning. As a result, the U.S Biathlon Association will forward the following list of athletes to the United States Olympic Committee. Men’s Olympic Team Nominations: 1) Tim Burke, Paul Smith’s, NY- prequalification from 2008-2009 season (2 top 15 results at WC) 2) Jay Hakkinen, Kasilof, AK- prequalification from...
The second phase of U.S. Biathlon Team Selection Races took place today in Altenberg at the IBU Cup Sprint events. The U.S. biathletes competing in Altenburg are vying for two open spots on the U.S. Olympic Team for men’s biathlon and three spots on the women’s team. Like their teammates in Oberhof, the U.S. athletes had to deal with similar weather challenges. Lowell Bailey (Lake Placid, NY) put his game together at the shooting range...
ALTENBERG, Germany — The first phase of the U.S. Olympic Biathlon Team selection began today in Altenberg. U.S. biathletes competing in Altenburg are vying for two open spots on the Men’s Olympic Team and three spots on the Women’s Olympic Team. Trials began today with a time-trial Sprint race which was contested between the U.S. athletes, and was scored using percent-back – a formula in which the three top times are averaged together to get...
The IBU Continental Cup , which is the final phase of the U.S. Olympic Biathlon Team selection begins on Thursday, January 7th in Altenberg. U.S. biathletes competing in Altenberg are vying for two available spots on the Men’s Team and three spots on the Women’s Team. The roster of athletes competing in Altenberg includes: 2006 Olympian Lowell Bailey (Lake Placid, NY), 2006 Olympian Lanny Barnes (Durango, Co), 2006 Olympian Tracy (Barnes) Colliander (Durango, Co), BethAnn...
“I guess that’s the best team result I’ve seen so far”, head coach Per Nilsson couldn’t help smiling after today’s sprint competition in Pokljuka, Slovenia. With three US athletes starting in tomorrow’s pursuit there are plenty of things to be happy about – or to even pray for. Burke has Chance on Yellow Bib Tim Burke’s eighth place in the sprint competition would already be amazing without the fact that he has a great chance...
Pyeong Chang, Korea – Lowell Bailey (Lake Placid, NY) turned in a personal best 18th place finish in the Men’s 15K Mass Start competition on Saturday evening. Bailey finished 2:21.5 behind Dominik Landertinger of Austria, who won the first race and World Championship of his career in 38:32.58. The 20-year-old did not take the lead until approximately 1.5K before the finish when Ole Einar Bjorndalen, feeling fatigued waved the youngster to take the pace. Landertinger...