December 29, 2005 – Amid gusting winds that can wreak havoc with a biathlete’s performance on the firing range, Canada’s Zina Kocher shot clean to climb into the top-five in the women’s 7.6km sprint in World Cup action on Saturday.

“This is a good mental breakthrough for me,” said a still-emotional Kocher from her hotel room after the race. “I’ve shot clean twice in one week, so I’m extremely happy.”

For the 23-year-old Red Deer native, the celebration was put on hold while Kocher and her team watched the field of more than 100 competitors complete the course.

“I started ninth, so I was second when I crossed the finish, but I know that my skiing isn’t as fast as some of the others,” said Kocher, who had time to cool down and change before her results were confirmed. “We were thinking I was in a strong position to be top-15 as I was entering the last lap. I was coming out of the cool-down when (coach) Richard (Boruta) told me I was pretty much guaranteed 5th and had to line up for the prize-giving ceremony. My team was down there shouting and hugging me, and I just lost it. It was so unexpected.”

The Brezno-Osrblie course has become a new favourite of Kocher’s – it’s the site of her last two personal best results.

“I really enjoy the course – it’s like a roller coaster. It has a long downhill into the range where if you skate-ski, you can really make up some time.”

Kocher’s result will allow her to start in Sunday’s pursuit – a race only the top-60 sprinters qualify to start.

“I’m in an excellent position for the pursuit, starting fifth. I’m still so in the moment right now, that I’m not really thinking about that race yet. I’m not going to stress or worry about it, but it’s very exciting to be starting fifth among the top girls,” she said. “I’m going to stay in the moment until tomorrow morning, then really focus on my shooting. Good shooting will get you up there.”

Kocher’s teammates Martine Albert (Rimouski, Que.) and Marie-Pierre Parent (St-Paul de Joliette, Que.) narrowly missed earning berths in Sunday’s pursuit, finishing back-to-back in 65th and 66th in Saturday’s sprint.

Also starting in Saturday’s pursuit for Canada will be David Leoni of Camrose, Alta. Though still looking for his first top-30 of the season, the 23-year-old has been climbing the ranks with more consistent top-40s, and finished 54th in Friday’s men’s 10km sprint as the top-Canadian and only men’s pursuit qualifier. Leoni was also the top Canadian in Thursday’s men’s 20km individual, finishing 39th.

To-date, the Canadian Biathlon Team has seven athletes who’ve met Olympic qualifying criteria for the Games in February. They include Kocher, Albert, Parent, Leoni, Robin Clegg, Sandra Keith, and Jean-Philippe LeGuellec.

For Kocher, the 2005/2006 season has already proven memorable.

“I’ve never started a season with such a bang. My program is going well, and I have excellent support staff. This gives me a boost – for the rest of the season, and for the Olympics,” she said.

Saturday’s women’s sprint podium was lead by Sweden’s Anna Carin Olofsson, who combined error-free shooting with on-snow speed to set the day’s benchmark at 22 minutes, 11.5 seconds. Germany’s Kati Wilhelm was second in 22.65.0, and Lilia Efremova of the Ukraine finished third in 23:21.8.

Results:
Women’s 7.6km sprint
Top 10:
1. Anna Carin Olofsson, SWE, 22:11.5; 2. Kati Wilhelm, GER, 22:65.0; 3.
Lilia Efremova, UKR, 23:21.8; 4. Svetlana Ishmouratova, RUS, 23:25.6; 5.
Zina Kocher, Red Deer, Alta., 23:31.2; 6. Yuxia Hou, CHN, 23:35.4; 7. Olga
Nazarova, BLR, 23:39.1; 8. Uschi Disl, GER, 23:39.5; 9. Pavlina Filipova,
BUL, 23:39.9; 10. Katrin Apel, GER, 23:44.1.
Other Canadians:
65. Martine Albert, Rimouski, Que., 25:56.9
66. Marie-Pierre Parent, St-Paul de Joliette, Que., 25:59.2