Biathlon Canada —Julia Ransom shoots clean to finish 19th against deep international field—

 

ANTHOLZ, Ita.—Canada’s World Cup biathlon rookie, Julia Ransom, had the race of her life finishing 19h in the women’s 10-kilometre pursuit race in in Antholz, Italy on Saturday.

 

Starting well back of the leaders in 46th spot based on Thursday’s sprint times, the 22-year-old bolted up the results page into 19h after clocking a time of 31:38.1 on the fast and hard-packed course.

 

“It feels amazing to crack the top-20,” said Ransom, who hails from Kelowna, B.C. “My goal this year was to be in the top 30 so I am over the moon.”

 

Ransom leaned on some shooting advice from teammate and World Cup veteran, Rosanna Crawford, before Saturday’s pursuit. The tips paid off as the sharp shooting Canuck shot clean in her four bouts on the range.

 

“That was my first 20/20. It feels good,” said Ransom. “Rosanna passed on some advice about key words. Mine was focus and something clicked! Being one of the youngest on the team, I appreciate every bit of mentorship I can get from our veterans on the team.

 

Russia’s Ekaterina Yurlova won the women’s race with a time of 30:07.3 (1+0+0+0). Switzlerand’s Selina Gasparin also missed one shot in her opening round of shooting to win the silver at 30:19.3. Italy’s Dorothea Wierer rounded out the podium in third at 30:25.3 (0+0+2+1).

 

Crawford, of Canmore, Alta., was the only other Canadian to qualify with the top-60 in the women’s pursuit, and finished 44th with a time of 33:49.1 (2+2+1+1),

 

Crawford’s boyfriend, Brendan Green, of Hay River, N.W.T., was the top Canadian in the men’s 12.5-kilometre pursuit race. Green missed just one shot in his final round of shooting, knocking him out of the top-30 into 31st at 34:10.3.

 

Calgary’s Nathan Smith missed one shot in each of his four trips to the range dropping him into 43rd place with a time of 35:06.8.

 

Russia’s Anton Shipulin won the men’s race with a time of 31:51.9 (0+1+0+1). Germany’s Simon Schempp finished 10 seconds off the pace in second at 32:02.2 (0+0+0+1), while Johannes Thingnes Boe, of Norway, skied to the bronze medal step of the podium with a time of 32:06.0.

 

The biathlon World Cup continues Sunday in Italy with the relay races.

 

Biathlon Canada is the governing body for biathlon in the country, and oversees the IBU Cup, World Cup, Canadian Championships, Eastern and Western Canadian Championships, and North American Cups held in Canada. With the support of its valued corporate partners – Mackenzie Investments, iON Worldwide, Kama, Roeckl Sports, Lapua, USANA, and ZiZU Optics – along with the Government of Canada, Canadian Olympic Committee and Own the Podium, Biathlon Canada’s mandate is to provide national level programs for the continuous development of biathlon athletes from the grassroots to the elite level. For more information on Biathlon Canada, please visit us at www.biathloncanada.ca on the Internet.

 

Complete Women’s Pursuit Results: http://biathlonresults.com/?RaceId=BT1516SWRLCP06SWSP&view=schedule_race

 

Complete Men’s Pursuit Results: http://biathlonresults.com/?RaceId=BT1516SWRLCP06SWSP&view=schedule_race

 

 

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Chris Dornan

Media and Public Relations

T: 403-620-8731

E-mail: hpprchris@shaw.ca