BIATHLON NEWS

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Biathlon participants finish on a high

By Julie Melanson

The BC Winter Games cross biathlon wrapped up at Sovereign Lake with a quick and exciting sprint race.
"It was pretty fast paced, with the two races going on at the same time. The girls were in the range and the boys were coming across the finish line just minutes after," said Dominick Dloughy, Biathlon organizer for the BC Winter Games

For Anneliese McNish, Senior girls, Duncan, today's racing was the highlight. Competing in the BC Games biathlon was a new experience for her.  "I race with cadets, and next year I plan to do BC Cup races, so now I know what to train for. I don't normally race three races back to back, but it was good. My favourite was the last, the super sprint. It was just an unusual and a fast one, and my shooting went pretty good."

Hailee Freisen of Zone 2, ( Kelowna) competing in the Junior girls also felt she learned a lot during the Games. "It was a lot of fun (being at the BC Winter Games). I learned a lot about myself and the sport itself, and I finally medalled, so it was pretty exciting. It was definitely shooting, because shooting was the main thing around the event, so you really need to be able to shoot. I learned that I'm not good at counting, the second one is, that if I really apply myself, I can get there."

While some took the experience as a learning experience, others felt it was just pure fun.Carson MacKenzie, of  Zone 2, (Kelowna) racing in Senior boys,  "It was a lot of fun. I met new people. Great Experience. The races, the first one wasn't as great as I thought it would be. I shot two, so you can't really expect much after that. And the next day I shot one of the best in the category and won that, and today - it was all about the skiing. I lost in the sprint to the finish. I got all colours, bronze, silver and gold."

Eric Byram, of Zone 2, winner in the senior boys category echoed his sentiment.  "It was lots of fun being with every that you are competing against the whole time, eating with them, just a lot of fun competing three days in a row. Everyone is tired at the end." He felt his racing went pretty well. "Yeah, I'm happy (with how my race went). I would have like to shoot a little better, but that happens with the sport."

Louisa Tsang, Senior Girls,  of Zone 4, (Vancouver) did all three days of racing. "I got silver first day, gold second day and silver today. My favourite race, I'd have to say, probably the first race, even though I got second. I just thought my skiing was better, and shooting as well. I thought it was a really fun experience, I got to bond with other team members, from my national team, so it was really fun."

Okanagan Athletes Strike Gold In Biathlon
By Pete McIntyre

A home town athlete will have some special memories from the 2012 BC Winter Games

Eric Byram of Vernon won gold and bronze medals in biathlon events at the Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre northwest of Vernon. The 15-year-old took first in the senior boys sprint and was third in the individual event.
 
The senior boys individual champion was another Okanagan athlete, Carson Mackenzie of Kelowna who was ahead of Emile Vogel-Nakamura of Vancouver, and Byram.

Biathlon combines cross country skiing with precision target shooting.The events are being held at the Sovereign Lake Noric Centre, northwest of Vernon.

Angus Tweedie of Smithers won gold in the junior boys individual with a score of 31:21.Sam Ruse of Kelowna won silver at 33:48, while Hunter Sones of Squamish took the bronze (34:00).
 
From the junior boys sprint, it was the exact same finish as the individual.Tweedie collected his second gold (16:46), Ruse was second (17:29), and Sones third.

In the Junior girls individual, Emily Dickson of Burns Lake was first (34:35), Claire Lapointe of Prince George was second (36:11) and Madison Roll of Quesnel captured bronze (37:54).
 
Dickson and Lapointe were again one-two in the junior girls sprint, and third went to Jenna Smailes of West Kelowna.
 
In the senior girls individual, Louisa Sang of Burnaby was first (54:00) ahead of Mirena Dimova of Kelowna (55:40), and the bronze medalist Leah Forsdick of Prince George.

Those three were also on the podium for the senior girls sprint but Dimova won gold (25:35), Tsang was second (27:25) and Forsdick was again third.

BC Winter Games at Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre
Biathlon Quotes

Provided By Julie Melanson

Zone 2, Eric Byram, Vernon, senior boys
(first day of racing )It went pretty well. I shot three. I tried to push it on the ski to keep it up. I got two out of three. I'd like to shoot a little better than that.

(third day of racing) It was lots of fun being with every that you are competing against the whole time, eating with them, just a lot of fun competing three days in a row. Everyone is tired at the end.
Yeah, I'm happy (with how my race went). I would have like to shoot a little better, but that happens with the sport."

Zone 2, Carson MacKenzie, Senior boys,   - Telemark, Kelowna
It was a lot of fun. I met new people. Great Experience. The races, the first one wasn't as great as I thought it would be. I shot two, so you can't really expect much after that.  And the next day I shot one of the best in the category and won that, and today - it waas all about eh skiing. I lost in the sprint to the finish. I got all colours, bronze, silver and gold.

Zone 2, Mirena Dimova, Senior girls
I have lots of experience and I keep learning with every race. I feel good. It was definitely a good experience.

Zone 2, Hailee Freisen, Junior girls, Kelowna
It was a lot of fun (being at the BC Winter Games). I learned a lot about myself and the sport itself, and I finally medalled, so it was pretty exciting. It was definitely shooting, because shooting was the main thing around the event, so you really need to be able to shoot. I learned that I'm not good at counting, the second one is, that if I really apply myself, I can get there.

Zone 8, Leah Forsdick, Senior girls, Prince George
The weekend of racing was good. It was cold and hard, but it was fun. There were about 5 or 6 of us, from P.G. I was really happy with my shooting. It was the best in both races, yesterday and today.

Zone 4, Louisa Tsang, Senior Girls, Vancouver
I did all three days or racing. I got silver first day, gold second day and silver today. My favourite race, I'd have to say, probably the first race, even though I got second. I just thought my skiing was better, and shooting as well.
I thought it was a really fun experience, I got to bond with other team members, from my national team, so it was really fun.

Zone 6, Anneliese McNish, Senior girls, Duncan
It was definitely a good experience. It was the first civilian race I've done. I know what to expect for the BC cups now. I race with cadets, and next year I plan to do BC Cup races, so now I know what to train for. I don't normally race three races back to back, but it was good. My favourite was the last, the super sprint. It was just an unusual and a fast one, and my shooting went pretty good.