U.S.A. Biathlon
KONTIOLAHTI, Finland (February 19, 2012) – Team USA’s World Junior/Youth Team has arrived in Finland for the first races of the IBU World Junior Championships. Kontiolahti, just finished hosting a Biathlon World Cup, and is making a quick turn-around to welcome the best junior biathletes from 26 nations.
Kontiolahti has the unfortunate reputation as one of the coldest World Cup venues, and this year it’s living up to its reputation. Athletes and coaches will need to be prepared for cold temperatures, which make life difficult on the ski trails, and even more difficult on the shooting range.
Team USA has arrived with a roster of 14 athletes, divided geographically between Alaska, the East, and the Minnesota. A number of the US team juniors have already competed internationally this season. Sean Doherty, Nick Proell, Anna Kubek were all members of the 2012 Youth Olympic Games Team competing in Innsbruck, Austria in January. Doherty and Kubek will be looking to improve on their individual finishes from the Youth Olympic Games- Sean placed 12th in the Sprint and 14th in the Pursuit, while Anna finished 13th in the Sprint and 10th in the Pursuit. Doherty and Kubek were part of the Biathlon/Cross Country combined relay (with Patrick Caldwell and Heather Mooney) that won the bronze medal at the Youth Olympic Games, just .5sec out of the Silver medal.
Casey Smith competed at the European Championships in Ridnaun, Italy in January, and had some excellent results- finishing 31st Sprint 10km, 29th Pursuit 12.5km, and 15th Individual 15km. Ethan Dreissigacker, Raleigh Goessling, Tara Geraghty-Moats, and Kelly Kjorlien are all veterans of at least one previous World Junior Biathlon Championship.
Team USA
World Junior/Youth Biathlon Championship Roster
Junior Men (age 19-20)
1 Casey Smith Methow Valley, WA
2 Ethan Dreissigacker Craftsbury, VT
3 Raleigh Goessling Duluth, MN
Youth Men (age 16-18)
1 Sam Dougherty Anchorage, AK
2 Nick Proell St Cloud, MN
3 Jake Prince Anchorage, AK
4 *Sean Doherty Center Conway, NH
Youth Women (age 19-20)
1 Tara Geraghty-Moats Westford, VT
2 Melissa Manning Burlington, VT
3 Mikaela Paluszek Farmington, NH
4 *Anna Kubek Duluth, MN
Junior Women age (16-18)
1 Kimberly Del Frate Palmer, AK
2 Amanda Del Frate Palmer, AK
3 Kelly Kjorlien Grand Rapids, MN
* pre-qualification based on top ranking for Youth Olympic Games and competitive performances versus senior field at October training camp in Soldier Hollow.
All results, including live coverage, will be available at www.biathlonworld.com. A full schedule of the 2012 IBU Junior/Youth World Championships is available here.
Kontiolahti has the unfortunate reputation as one of the coldest World Cup venues, and this year it’s living up to its reputation. Athletes and coaches will need to be prepared for cold temperatures, which make life difficult on the ski trails, and even more difficult on the shooting range.
Team USA has arrived with a roster of 14 athletes, divided geographically between Alaska, the East, and the Minnesota. A number of the US team juniors have already competed internationally this season. Sean Doherty, Nick Proell, Anna Kubek were all members of the 2012 Youth Olympic Games Team competing in Innsbruck, Austria in January. Doherty and Kubek will be looking to improve on their individual finishes from the Youth Olympic Games- Sean placed 12th in the Sprint and 14th in the Pursuit, while Anna finished 13th in the Sprint and 10th in the Pursuit. Doherty and Kubek were part of the Biathlon/Cross Country combined relay (with Patrick Caldwell and Heather Mooney) that won the bronze medal at the Youth Olympic Games, just .5sec out of the Silver medal.
Casey Smith competed at the European Championships in Ridnaun, Italy in January, and had some excellent results- finishing 31st Sprint 10km, 29th Pursuit 12.5km, and 15th Individual 15km. Ethan Dreissigacker, Raleigh Goessling, Tara Geraghty-Moats, and Kelly Kjorlien are all veterans of at least one previous World Junior Biathlon Championship.
Team USA
World Junior/Youth Biathlon Championship Roster
Junior Men (age 19-20)
1 Casey Smith Methow Valley, WA
2 Ethan Dreissigacker Craftsbury, VT
3 Raleigh Goessling Duluth, MN
Youth Men (age 16-18)
1 Sam Dougherty Anchorage, AK
2 Nick Proell St Cloud, MN
3 Jake Prince Anchorage, AK
4 *Sean Doherty Center Conway, NH
Youth Women (age 19-20)
1 Tara Geraghty-Moats Westford, VT
2 Melissa Manning Burlington, VT
3 Mikaela Paluszek Farmington, NH
4 *Anna Kubek Duluth, MN
Junior Women age (16-18)
1 Kimberly Del Frate Palmer, AK
2 Amanda Del Frate Palmer, AK
3 Kelly Kjorlien Grand Rapids, MN
* pre-qualification based on top ranking for Youth Olympic Games and competitive performances versus senior field at October training camp in Soldier Hollow.
All results, including live coverage, will be available at www.biathlonworld.com. A full schedule of the 2012 IBU Junior/Youth World Championships is available here.