March 25, 2010 (Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia) – Canada’s Megan Tandy posted one of her strongest results of the World Cup season after finishing 31st in a 7.5-kilometre sprint competition in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia on Thursday. The 21-year-old Tandy, who is one of the youngest women competing on the World Cup, is edging her way into the top-30 as the 2010 season wraps up.

The Prince George native and third-year member of the Canadian Biathlon Team clocked a time of 22 minutes 34.0 seconds in Russia. Tandy, who competed at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, missed just one shot in her two trips to the range.

The sprint event consists of athletes racing three times around the 3.3-kilometre track. Athletes enter the shooting range for set of shots in the prone position, then one set standing before the final sprint to the finish. Athletes must ski a 150-metre penalty loop immediately after shooting if they miss a target.

Russia’s Iana Romanova was perfect in her two rounds of shooting Thursday to win the gold medal with a time of 20:59.3. Marie Laure Brunet, of France, was second at 21:10.2, while Sweden’s Helena Jonsson also shot clean to grab the bronze with a time of 21:14.8.

Two other Canadian women also suited up in Russia. Zina Kocher, of Red Deer, Alta., had a difficult day on the range which pushed her back in the pack. The two-time Olympian missed three shots to finish 40th at 23:07.6. Megan Imrie, of Falcon Lake, Man., also missed three shots and finished 48th at 23:33.2.

The final World Cup competition of the season continues on Friday in Russia with the men’s 10-kilometre sprint.

Complete results here.

Results (brief)

1. Iana Romanova, RUS, (0+0), 20:59.3
2. Marie Laure Brunet, FRA, (0+0+, 21:10.2
3. Helena Jonsson, SWE, (0+0), 21:14.8
4. Simone Hauswald, GER, (0+1), 21:15.6
5. Olga Medvedtseva, RUS, (0+0), 21:19.1

31. Megan Tandy, Prince George, B.C., (1+0), 22:34.0
40. Zina Kocher, Red Deer, Alta., (2+1), 23:07.6
48. Megan Imrie, Falcon Lake, Man., (2+1), 23:33.2.