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Canmore biathlon finally kicks off, Canadian Olympian cracks top 10

On the first day of the biathlon IBU Cup in Canmore on Saturday (Feb. 25), Canada's Adam Runnalls sprinted into the top-10.

CANMORE – Canada's Adam Runnalls cracked the top-10, while Janice Grundahl was the top Canadian woman on the first day of the Biathlon IBU Cup at the Canmore Nordic Centre on Saturday (Feb. 25).

The top athletes of the IBU Cup, the feeder circuit to the world cup, finally raced in Canmore following two rescheduled days due to extreme cold temperatures in the Bow Valley.

On a windy race day, Runnalls of Calgary was the Great White North's top athlete, finishing ninth in the men's 10-km sprint at a time of 27:31.2 on seven-for-10 shooting.

"Shooting was a little tough today with the wind," said Runnalls. "I think getting adjusted to being back here instead of in Europe, so elevation and then it's just a really difficult course, I think, made it tricky on the shooting. I think I need a little more on the shooting, but skiing I felt good about."

A mainstay on the world cup, the 24-year-old Olympian wanted to race the "special" IBU Cup in Canmore.

"This is my first time ever really competing at home, so I was a little nervous," said Runnalls. "Having those jitters gone is going to be helpful [in the upcoming races.]"

Runnalls finished 1:34.2 behind gold medallist and Germany's Philipp Horn, who shot clean and clocked in at a time of 25:56.6.

Norwegians Vebjoern Soerum (9/10) and Johan-Olav Botn (8/10) rounded out the podium.

Canada's Zachary Connelly finished 17th (7/10). Meanwhile, other Canucks on the course included Haldan Borglum (6/10) and Lucas Smith (7/10) finishing 41st and 42nd, respectively. Ryan Elden (7/10) was 53rd and Troy Martel (5/10) finished 55th.

In the women's 7.5-km sprint, Canuck Grundahl shot clean and finished 13th at a time of 23:53.8.

Canada's Shilo Rousseau (7/10) was 28th, while the nation's Gillian Gowling (8/10) was 34th, Zoe Pekos (7/10) was 36th, Jenna Sherrington (7/10) was 39th, and Canmore's Anna Sellers (9/10) was 41st.

"I had some highs and lows," said Sellers. "My skiing didn't feel great, unfortunately, but there's a lot more days to get it back. ... But the shooting felt really good, especially my prone bout. It was super fast. One of the best bouts, I feel, I've ever shot."

The hometown athlete said she had some nerves racing in front of the Canmore fans.

"It's a bit daunting. They're all right in front of you when you're coming in the range and you're trying to focus, but out on course, it was really nice to have everyone saying my name," said Sellers.

Winning gold in the women's sprint was Norway's Maren Kirkeeide (9/10) at a time of 22:15.3.

Taking silver was France's Paula Botet (9/10) and bronze was Ukraine's Khrystyna Dmytrenko (10/10).

The IBU Cup in Canmore continues Sunday (Feb. 26) with the super sprints.

The women's starts at 10:30 a.m. MST, and the men's starts 2:10 p.m. MST.


Jordan Small

About the Author: Jordan Small

An award-winning reporter, Jordan Small has covered sports, the arts, and news in the Bow Valley since 2014. Originally from Barrie, Ont., Jordan has lived in Alberta since 2013.
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