January 30, 2013 (Obertilliach, Austria) – Canada’s Macx Davies scored a career-best 8th place finish with two misses in the Junior men’s 15km individual competition won by Russia’s Alexandr Loginov who also missed two shots en route to gold in 40:42.2.

Macx Davies © Hugh Harden

Davies, 20, from Calgary was at his third IBU World Championships and was in second place when he crossed the finish line dropping to a stellar 8th. Croatia’s Dino Butkovic claimed the silver with one miss, while Clement Dumont, of France, also missed one shot to grab the bronze.

“This was my final individual race at World Juniors so I put a lot of thought and concentration into the shooting today because I wanted a strong result,” said Davies. “I didn’t know I was in second until the final lap and that was pretty exciting. It was too bad to watch myself drop, but I am very happy with how things went. It gives me a lot of confidence to finish as a junior with this result.”

Securing the final spot in the top-30 was Canada’s Menno Arendz, of Hartsville, P.E.I., (1+1+0+0) followed by teammate Christian Gow from Calgary in 36th (1+2+2+1). Casey Smith lead the US team in 37th  (1+1+1+2) with teammate Jacob Dalberg in 52nd and Canadian Jasper Mckenzie, of Kelowna, B.C., 65th (1+3+0+1).

In the junior women’s 12.5km individual start Canada’s Rose-Marie Cote, 20, of St-Jean Chrysostome, Que., was the top North American in 22nd as Germany’s Laura Dahlmeier earned the title with two misses in 39:48.2 (1+0+0+1).

Austria’s Lisa Theresa also missed two shots on her way to the silver while Germany’s Franziska Preuss, also with two misses  landed on the final step on the podium.

Julia Ransom, of Kelowna, B.C., was 34th (1+4+1+1);  Erin Yungblut, of Wroxeter, Ont., finished 48th (2+1+1+1); and Emma Lodge, of Canmore, Alta., placed 50th (2+2+1+2). Tara Geraghty-Moats the lone USA biathlete competing was 63rd.

Next up on the calendar for the Youth and Junior World Championships are the relay competitions.

Junior women’s results HERE.
Junior men’s results HERE.