Biathlon event in County wraps up

    PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The Nordic Heritage Center was host to the IBU Youth/Junior Biathlon World Championships Feb. 28-March 7 and the United States’ Sean Doherty had a memorable performance in his first-ever competition in the Star City.    Doherty took gold in the youth men sprint competition held as the event kickoff Feb. 28. Doherty had a time of 19:35 to defeat Marco Gross of Germany by just 1.7 seconds, with Dmitrii Shamaev of Russia in third at 19:53.9.
On the women’s side, Lisa Vittozzi of Italy won in 18:49.9, followed by Anna Weidel of Germany in 19:02.9 and Julia Simon of France in 19:08.2.
Madeline Grace Phaneuf of Team USA was fourth in 19:49.3.
The junior men and women held their sprint competition March 1. Alexander Povarnitsyn of Russia claimed the men’s gold in 25:45.8, with Tore Leren of Norway taking silver in 25:59.2 and Eduard Latypov of Russia the bronze in 26:02.3.
Tyler Mark Gustafson had the top finish for USA, placing 43rd in 29:21.6.
For the women, Evgeniya Pavlova of Russia won in 21:08.5, with Galina Vishnevskaya of Kazakhstan second in 21:08.8 and Annika Knoll of Germany third in 21:47.2. Team USA’s Kelsey Joan Dickinson was 22nd in 23:25.5.
Doherty made it double gold on March 2 when he won the youth men pursuit in 28:51.8. He was 1:03.6 faster than Gross (29:55.4), while Shamaev was third in 30:54.5.
For junior men, Fabien Claude of France was first in 33:02.8, with Povarmitsyn second in 33:13.7 and Jarle Midthjell Gjoerven of Norway third in 33:26.6. Gustafson came in 48th place in 40:05.2 to lead the Team USA contingent.
The women took to the course as well for the pursuit races. For the youth, Vittozzi won her second gold medal by claiming a time of 24:39.9. Weidel was second in 24:59.1 and Estelle Mougel of France third in 25:09.5. Anna Kubek had the best time for the United States in 26:23.6, good for 18th place overall.
The junior women’s winner was Vishnevskaya of Kazakhstan in 32:36.3. Luise Kummer of Germany was second in 33:34.1 and Sarah Beaudry of Canada third in 34:44.3. Dickinson came in 38th in 40:34.3 to pace the USA.
Last Tuesday featured the individual competition for youth women and men. Julia Schwaiger of Austria was the winner in 32:58.7, with Vittozzi taking second in 34:04.4 and Liliya Davletshina of Russia third in 34:24.6. Phaneuf of the United States was eighth in 37:14.7.
Doherty fell just short of another first-place performance. He was second to Yaroslav Kostyukov of Russia, who won in 35:22.6. Doherty was just 6.3 seconds behind in 35:28.9, with Emilien Jacquelin of France in third in 36:06.5.
The junior women and men took the stage last Wednesday for the individuals. Luise Kummer of Germany took first for the women in 36:24. Lisa Theresa Hauser of Austria was second in 36:43.4 and Uliana Kaisheva of Russia third in 37:21.4. Dickinson came in 40th in 48:18 to lead the way for Team USA.
Norway’s Leren was the men’s champion in 42:29.3, with Aristide Begue of France in second in 42:30.3 and Begue’s fellow countryman Dany Chavoutier third in 43:13.2. Gustafson finished in 50:52.3 to land the 48th spot.
Relays wrapped up the week’s schedule Thursday and Friday. On Thursday, the youth races took place. France was first for women in 59:32.8. Russia was second in 59:42.8 and Austria third in 1:00:05.5.
Team USA, made up of Kubek, Phaneuf and Mikaela Paluszek, was ninth in 1:04:29.3.
The order of finish for the youth men was Russia in first (59:18.9), Canada in second (1:01:29.1) and Finland in third (1:01:32.8). Team USA was the fifth-place finisher behind Paul Thomas Everett, Doherty and Brian Halligan. The trio fashioned a time of 1:01:53.1.
Friday’s junior competition saw Germany sweep the men’s and women’s titles. The men won in 1:15:38.4, followed by France in 1:16:30.9 and Russia in 1:16:39.6. Team USA was 12th in 1:26:00, with Ellingson, Gustafson, Jacob Dalberg and Kamran Muneer Husain in competition.
Germany was the women’s winner in 55:47.8, with Russia in second in 56:13.5 and Austria third in 56:23. The United States took 11th in 1:03:22.8. The three-person team included Dickinson, Tara Geraghty-Moats and Siena May Rose Ellingson.