Snowfilzen in Full Effect for Relay Day

After two days of sun and blue skies, Hochfilzen turned into “Snowfilzen” as the venue was trapped in a snow globe for the better part of the day. Despite the change in conditions, Team USA brought the heat and pulled together two fantastic team efforts in both the women’s 4x6km relay and men’s 4x7.5km relay to round out the race weekend. 

Deedra Irwin (Pulaski, WI/Army World Class Athlete Program) tackled the first leg with full force, using just three total spare rounds and putting up one of the leg’s fastest ski times. Irwin tagged off Margie Freed (Apple Valley, MN/Craftsbury Green Racing Project) who kept the momentum using only three spares as well. In her first biathlon relay, Lucinda Anderson (Golden Valley, MN/Team Birkie) had speedy skis and continued to impress on the range. Despite having one penalty lap in prone, she quickly regrouped and hit four of five standing targets, then needing just one additional spare to clean the final target. Grace Castonguay (Jackson, NH/Craftsbury Green Racing Project) took to the course as the anchor leg and continued her impressive shooting streak, also needing only three total spares, to secure the team’s 16th place finish.   

“My first World Cup weekend was so much fun,” said Anderson after the women’s relay. “There are so many fans out here and it is so great to be back with my teammates. I’m just having the best time, I love it!” 

Around an hour later, the quad of Sean Doherty (Conway, NH/Army World Class Athlete Program), Maxime Germain (Chamonix-Mont Blanc, FRA/National Guard Biathlon), Campbell Wright (Wanaka, NZL/Waiorau Nordic Skiing) and Jake Brown (St. Paul, MN/Craftsbury Green Racing Project) were back on the course for the men’s 4x7.5km relay. Despite struggles on the range, Doherty was able to keep the U.S. in contention for a top result. Second in the lineup for Team USA, Germain had the relay leg of his life, skiing fast and shooting clean to tag off Wright in fifth place. Wright carried the momentum into his leg, needing just three spare rounds to hand the baton off to Brown in fourth. The clouds parted, finally revealing blue skis as Brown hit the course for the final leg of the relay. With a solid shooting performance, using just three spare rounds, Brown powered through his last lap to solidify the sixth place finish. 

Athletes* now head west to the French Alps, finishing out the first trimester at the Annecy-Le Grand Bornand World Cup. Racing kicks off on Thursday, December 19 with the men’s 10km sprint slated for 8:20 EST / 2:20 CET. Catch the live stream on Eurovision Sports, or stay up to date with live race updates, start lists, results and more on the IBU App. More information can be found HERE. 

*Kelsey Dickinson will not race in Annecy as she continues to focus on recovery from illness.

World Cup 3 - Annecy-Le Grand Bornand, FRA

Thursday, December 19

Men’s 10km Sprint  08:20 EST // 14:20 CET

Friday, December 20

Women's 7.5km Sprint  08:20 EST // 14:20 CET

Saturday, December 21

Men’s 12.5km Pursuit  06:30 EST // 12:30 CET

Women’s 10km Pursuit  08:45 EST // 14:45 CET

Sunday, December 22

Men’s 15km Mass Start  06:30 EST // 12:30 CET

Women’s 12.5km Mass Start  08:45 EST // 14:45 CET