Reid Tops U.S. Efforts in Beijing Pursuits
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by US Biathlon
Joanne Reid was perfect from the prone position during the women's pursuit on Feb. 13, 2022 (photo by Nordic Focus)
BEIJING, China (Feb. 13, 2022) – Joanne Reid (Grand Junction, Colo.) equaled the second-best pursuit finish of her career Sunday at the Beijing 2022 Winter Games with a 29th-place effort in the 10-kilometer event at the Zhangjiakou National Biathlon Center. Reid cleaned the first 15 targets on a tricky shooting range and was only slowed by three penalties in the final standing stage to cross the finish line 4 minutes, 19.8 seconds back of gold medalist Marte Olsbu Roeiseland of Norway.
It was a historic race for U.S. Biathlon with all four American women competing in the pursuit for the first time in Olympic history. Reid was joined by teammates Clare Egan (Cape Elizabeth, Maine/Craftsbury Green Racing Project & USBA) who finished 38th, Susan Dunklee (Craftsbury, Vt./Craftsbury Green Racing Project & USBA) who was 40th, and Deedra Irwin (Pulaski, Wis./National Guard Biathlon & USBA) who came in 47th and qualified for the first mass start of her career next Saturday.
The pursuit races were greeted by moderate snow, a stiff wind blowing across the shooting range, and bone-chilling temperatures. All three elements combined to make it tough going for the competitors.
"It was actually really fun," said Reid. "This was the first time we've seen real winter in awhile. The snow coming down really makes it feel kind of Christmasey, and I think we just had a really good time out there, especially because it tightens the skiing so you end up in a big pack, so I got to ski with all of my teammates at some point."
"Snow like this adds a different element," added Irwin. "You really have to fight through it. Making the pursuit at the Olympics, having all four of us in this race, it's just been a historic Olympics for all of us."
Olsbu Roeiseland, with just a single penalty on the range, was unchallenged from start to finish as she added her second individual gold medal of the Games, winning with a time of 34:46.9. Sweden's Elvira Oeberg, with three penalties, came back from sixth position before the last standing stage where she shot clean to take her second consecutive silver medal. Olsbu Roeiseland's teammate Tiril Eckhoff, also with three penalties, captured the bronze medal, 1:48.7 back.
Following the women's race, the men took to the tracks for their 12.5km pursuit. Americans Jake Brown (St. Paul, Minn./Craftsbury Green Racing Project & USBA) and Sean Doherty (Center Conway, N.H.) finished 40th and 43rd, respectively. Brown had six penalties and was 6:06.6 back, while Doherty finished 6:31.3 behind with seven penalties.
France's Quentin Fillon Maillet overcame the windy and snowy conditions to shoot clean in all four stages to secure the gold medal in 39:07.5. Norway's Tarjei Boe, with one penalty, won the silver medal, 28.6 seconds back. Eduard Latypov of the Russian Olympic Committee won the bronze, 35.3 seconds behind with one penalty.
Following a rest day on Monday, the biathlon competition at the Beijing Winter Games continues on Tuesday with the men's 4x7.5km relay.
Women's 10k pursuit results
|
1. |
Marte Olsbu Roeiseland (NOR) |
34:46.9/+1 |
|
2. |
Elvira Oeberg (SWE) |
+1:36.5/+3 |
|
3. |
Tiril Eckhoff (NOR) |
+1:48.7/+3 |
|
29. |
Joanne Reid (Grand Junction, Colo.) |
+4:19.8/+3 |
| 38. |
Clare Egan (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) | +5:30.1/+4 |
| 40. |
Susan Dunklee (Craftsbury, Vt.) | +5:32.0/+3 |
| 47. |
Deedra Irwin (Pulaski, Wis.) | +6:14.1/+4 |
Men's 12.5k pursuit results
|
1. |
Quentin Fillon Maillet (FRA) |
39:07.5/+0 |
|
2. |
Tarjei Boe (NOR) |
+28.6/+1 |
|
3. |
Eduard Latypov (ROC) |
+35.3/+1 |
|
40. |
Jake Brown (St. Paul, Minn.) |
+6:06.6/+6 |
| 43. |
Sean Doherty (Center Conway, N.H.) | +6:31.3/+7 |
Check out the Watch Olympic Biathlon schedule for viewing options of all the races from Beijing. You can also follow all the action on the IBU app - download it today!
https://apps.apple.com/app/official-ibu-app/id1581415457?l=en
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=at.ibu.app
Biathlon Event Schedule for Beijing 2022 Olympic Games (all times EST)
Saturday, Feb. 5 (RECAP)
4:00 am – Mixed relay
Monday, Feb. 7 (RECAP)
4:00 am – Women’s 15km individual
Tuesday, Feb. 8 (RECAP)
3:30 am – Men’s 20km individual
Friday, Feb. 11 (RECAP)
4:00 am – Women’s 7.5km sprint
Saturday, Feb. 12 (RECAP)
4:00 am – Men’s 10km sprint
Sunday, Feb. 13
4:00 am – Women’s 10km pursuit
5:45 am – Men’s 12.5km pursuit
Tuesday, Feb. 15
4:00 am – Men’s 4x7.5km relay
Wednesday, Feb. 16
2:45 am – Women’s 4x6km relay
Friday, Feb. 18
4:00 am – Men’s 15km mass start
Saturday, Feb. 19
4:00 am – Women’s 12.5km mass start
