January 23, 2007 (Martell-Val Martello, Italy) – The Youth/Junior Biathlon World Championships are set to begin this week in Martell, Italy, and Biathlon Canada announced on Tuesday there are 15 Canadian hopefuls looking to shine on the world stage.

Canada’s young biathlon team, which consists of eight men and seven women, has been busy achieving solid results this season on the European Cup circuit, with 12 top-30 finishes to their credit.

Maxime Leboeuf, of Val Bélair, Que., leads the way for the junior men into the international spectacle after posting three top-10 finishes at last year’s World Championships in the youth division. The 19-year-old Leboeuf has been making significant strides this year against the world’s best junior biathletes. Heading into this week’s event, the Canuck has an eighth-place finish under his belt at the European Cup in Forni Alvoltri, Italy. Joining him is fellow Quebecor, and current Canadian junior sprint champion, Marc-André Bédard, 20. Bédard achieved the top result for Canada this season on the European Cup circuit, with a sixth-place finish in Obertilliach, Austria, in December.

Rounding out the men’s team are two 20 year olds. Yannick Letailleur, of Edmonton, and Brendan Green, of Hay River, N.W.T., have both achieved consistent results amongst the world’s elite on the European Cup circuit, and are looking for breakthrough performances this week.

Meanwhile, Meagan Imrie, of Falcon Lake, Man., will lead the charge for the seven Canadian women headed to Italy. The 19 year old, who consistently places in the top of the pack on the European Cup, heads into World Championships with an improved shot, and significant advancement in her skiing technique.

Joining Imrie in the junior women’s category is four-year veteran to the junior scene, Cindy Clark, of Canmore, Alta., and Claude Godbout, of Quebec, who will be making her second trip to the World Championships.

The national body will introduce an entirely new youth team to the world this week with the exception of Megan Tandy, of Prince George, B.C., who finished eighth at the 2006 World Championships.

“The level of competition for men and women in Canada, with both junior and senior teams, is definitely being raised,” said Joanne Thomson, executive director, Biathlon Canada. “It has taken a while, but we are developing an incredibly strong group of talented biathletes who will continue to develop as they respond to the influence of competing at the international level.”

The following is a breakdown of athletes that will wear the Canadian colours at the 2007 Youth/Junior World Biathlon Championships in Italy:

Junior Men
– Maxime Leboeuf – Que.
– Marc-André Bédard – Que.
– Yannick Letailleur – Alta.
– Brendan Green – N.W.T.

Junior Women
– Megan Imrie – Man.
– Cindy Clark – Alta.
– Claude Godbout – Que.

Youth Men
– Kurtis Wenzel – Alta.
– Scott Gow – Alta.
– Stuart Lodge – Alta.
– Daniel Robb – Alta.

Youth Women
– Megan Tandy – B.C.
– Tana Chesham – Alta.
– Jessica Sedlock – B.C.
– Sarah Murphy – Alta.

For full schedule information, please visit www.biathlonworld.com

Biathlon Canada, the governing body for biathlon in the country, oversees the Canadian Championships, Eastern and Western Canadian Championships, and North American Cups held in Canada. The organization’s mandate is to provide national level programs for the continuous development of biathlon athletes from the grassroots to the elite level.

For more information on Biathlon Canada, please visit their website at www.biathloncanada.ca