This post never posted from a few days ago, so better late than never
So my thoughts from the US participants in the first races:
For the Women:
43rd - Levins - she is #6 right now for the women. She is 22 and this was her first IBU Cup race. Not bad.
55th - Grossman - Hallie has been on the IBU Cup for a few years now. She has had the odd WC start. But this is about where I anticipated her.
71st - Phaneuf - Maddie started the first races in Finland this year and is currently the 5th biathlete for the US women.
84th - Garso - Jaquelyn was in her first International race ever. She acquitted herself pretty well.
116th - Stertz - Emma is another one who skied in her first ever IBU Cup event. She does have quite a bit of Junior/Youth experience.
117 - Hochschartner - Lucy was in her first ever international race, missed 8 shots, but only finished 6:05 back.
This was about what I anticipated. I guess what I look for on Saturday is progression for all of the women. I think that Levins, Grossman, and Phaneuf are on the relay. I imagine the 4st spot is up for grabs. I love that the USBA was willing to spend the money to take 6 women. The US/Canada national this year has been mostly cancelled due to COVID. Some of the states, ie Wisconsin and Washington have hosted local biathlon races, but those are not at the level needed for development.
For the Men
34th - Durtschi - Max did start one of the races in Finland and is a WC and IBU Cup veteran. No surprise at all that he was best US men's racer. Good to see him shoot clean.
64th - Cervenka - Vasha, 21, lives in Minneapolis, his dad is a Czech immigrant and former biathlete and now coaches lots of the youth in Minnesota. Vasha now lives in Nova Mesto to train. This was his first IBU Cup level event.
72nd - Raleigh Goessling - Has been on the IBU Cup since the 18/19 season. Right about where I thought he would end up, but he 9 hits is a nice surprise for him, he had only done that one before at the senior level.
93rd - Leopold - Lars was another in their first race on the IBU level. He lives in Lillehammar, Norway to train. Long time youth and junior international level skier.
107 - Bonacci - VIncent, 20, is from Montana. This was his first IBU Cup level event. I think that 3 missis will be a little frustrating, but not a bad place to start. He had only one IBU Junior level competition.
Just like the women, I imagine the relay is pretty set. Durtschi, Goessling, with the other two spots up for grabs. Cervenka looks to have the massive edge over the other two, but we will see.
I love that the USBA was willing to spend the money to take 5 men and 6 women. The US/Canada national races this year has been mostly cancelled due to COVID. Some of the states, ie Wisconsin and Washington have hosted local biathlon races, but those are not at the level needed for development.
Not a bad start.