March 30, 2008 (Squamish, BC) – Canada’s Jean-Philippe LeGuellec of Shannon, Que. and Zina Kocher from Red Deer, Alta. took advantage of perfect conditions to win the men’s and women’s national sprint titles respectively at the 2008 Canadian Biathlon Championships on Saturday at Whistler Olympic Park.

LeGuellec won the men’s 10km sprint competition with a time of 26:43.0 over the USA’s Tim Burke (Paul Smiths, NY) who had four penalties and was 27.6 seconds back. Ottawa’s Robin Clegg placed third in 27:10.8 and thus claimed the Canadian National silver medal while Francois Leboeuf, of Val Belair, Que., was third at 27:41.1 taking the bronze.

“It was super sunny and beautiful out there today and the trails were nice and hard,” said LeGuellec who missed only one shot standing on the range. “The skiing went very well for me. I struggled a bit shooting standing, but managed to come in for a very strong finish.”

Canada’s Kocher was back on the podium following a difficult season with illness winning the women’s 7.5km sprint in 21:51.7. In second for the silver was Claude Godbout of Quebec at 22:30.0 while US Development Team member Sara Studebaker (Boise, ID) claimed third 53.3 seconds behind Kocher. The Canadian bronze medal went to Calgary’s Sandra Keith who finished fourth in 22:55.7.

“I was feeling really strong and able to attack the course well today,” said Kocher, who became the first Canadian biathlete to win a World Cup medal in more than a decade when she claimed the bronze at a World Cup event in Sweden last year. “I really like the flow of the course and it really demands a lot.”

Junior Competition

The USA’s Wynn Roberts (Battle Lake, MN) at 27:59 and Leif Nordgren (Marine-on-St. Croix, MN) at 19.1 seconds back went one-two in the Junior Men’s 10km Sprint competition with Maxime Lebouef, of Val Cartier, Que., in third at 28:24.9 taking home the junior men’s sprint crown.

Megan Tandy, of Prince George, B.C., who missed two shots standing on the range, won her second consecutive title in the junior women’s 7.5km sprint in 22:42.7. The only US competitor was Hilary McNamee (Fort Fairfield, ME), with one penalty, finishing 2:20.9 behind Tandy.

The Canadian Biathlon Championships wrap up on Sunday with the mixed relay competitions.

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