February 26, 2012 (Kontiolahti, FIN) – Canada’s Julia Ransom skied to her first-ever international medal, claiming the silver in the women’s youth pursuit competition on the final day of the Biathlon World Championships in Kontiolahti, Finland on Sunday.  Starting time-behind-the-leader in fifth spot based on Friday’s sprint results, the 19-year-old Ransom, of Kelowna, B.C., charged through the challenging 7.5km course to clock a time of 27:24.9.

“It feels pretty good. I am really excited,” said Ransom in a team release. “It was a goal of mine to get on the podium at World Championships, but I definitely did not expect this today.”

Ransom finished just over six seconds behind winner, Grete Gaim of Estonia while Germany’s Annika Knoll landed in the bronze medal position.

“I usually tend to go a bit to fast when I’m skiing in packs, but I was in good control all day today,” added Ransom. “It was perfect conditions today and our skis were so fast thanks to our amazing wax techs.”

Canadians Sarah Beaudry and Rose-Marie Cote finished 20^th and 42^nd respectively in the youth women’s 7.5km pursuit competition with American Tara Moats-Geraghty placing 52^nd.

In the junior women’s 10km pursuit race, the top North American finisher was Canadian Audrey Vaillancourt who placed 17^th while fellow Canucks Keely MacCulloch, Emma Lunder, and Emma Lodge finished in 38^th, 44^th, and 52^nd place respectively.  The two American women in the field, Kimberly Del Frate and Amanda Del Frate placed 55^th and 59^th.

In the men’s youth pursuit 10km race, Canadian Stuart Harden shot clean to grab a stellar 6th place while American Sean Doherty was a strong 13th followed by Canuck Christian Gow in 15th. Following Gow was teammate Albert Bouchard in 30th while Americans Samuel Dougherty and Nicholas Proell finished in 42nd and 56th place respectively.

Canadian Kurtis Wenzel also rebounded to the top form he displayed earlier in the week when he won his second IBU Junior Worlds gold medal, placing 7th in the junior men’s 12.5km pursuit race.

The USA’s Eathan Dreissigacher was 30^th, with Canadian Aaron Gillmor finishing up in 38^th place. Rounding out the North American men was USA’s Casey Smith in 46^th position.

Youth Women’s 7.5km Pursuit results HERE.
Youth Men’s 10km Pursuit results HERE.

Junior Women’s 10km Pursuit results HERE.
Junior Men’s 12.5km Pursuit results HERE.