January 29, 2007 – The sun was shining, the wind was calm, and Canada’s junior men turned in a great day, with three athletes in the top-30 during Sunday’s 12.5-kilometre pursuit race in Martell-Val Martello, Italy. With just one race to go, the Biathlon Junior World Championships have been a tremendous success for Canada’s next generation of biathletes.

Maxime Leboeuf and Brendan Green were in hot pursuit of the leaders today, both improving on their starting positions. Leboeuf, of Val Bélair, Que., moved up from 25th spot to finish the day in 11th-place, four minutes 25.7 seconds off the leading pace set by Germany’s Christoph Stephan. Green, who has been in the top-20 throughout the entire competition, moved up from 16th-place to finish 12th, +4:28.4 behind the German winner.

“Everything really came together for me today,” said Leboeuf. “I have been sick for the last few races and I’m finally starting to feel better. My skiing was really strong, despite a couple of misses on the range, and I am very pleased with my performance.”

“The entire week has been a great experience for me,” said Green. ”I started out a bit shaky today, with a couple of misses in prone, but managed to refocus and shoot clean during the standing. I am really pumped about my performances with strong finishes in all three races. And if we all ski a good race, we will definitely be a threat during the relay on Wednesday.”

In women’s pursuit action, Megan Imrie, of Falcon Lake, Man., kept her streak alive, posting her third consecutive top-20 result. Imrie completed the 10-kilometre race six minutes and 26.2 seconds behind the leader, Svetlana Sleptsova, of Russia. The 20-year-old has maintained her consistent performances throughout the competition, with solid shooting and fast skiing keeping her among the best junior biathletes in the world. Joining Imrie in the race was Claude Godbout, of Quebec, who finished 42nd (+10:00.8) and Cindy Clark, of Canmore, Alta., who was 49th (+11:23.2).

In the youth women’s pursuit, Megan Tandy, of Prince George, B.C., was top Canadian in 28th (+6:26.2). Teammate Sarah Murphy, of Canmore, Alta., was right behind her in 29th (+6:55.9), while Jessica Sedlock, of Victoria, was 52nd (+10:38.1), and Tana Chesham, also from Canmore, was 53rd (+10:45.5).

Meanwhile, in the youth men’s pursuit, Calgarians Scott Gow and Stuart Logde were the lone representatives for Canada, finishing 23rd (+4:36.0) and 47th (+8:21.1) respectively.

The Canadian team will suit up together for the women’s relay on Tuesday and the men’s relay on Wednesday. For full schedule information and results, please visit www.biathlonworld.com.


Junior men top-five results:

1. Christoph Stephan, GER, 36:58.8; 2. Daniel Böhm, GER, +35.7; 3. Simon Schempp, GER, +1:20.3; 4. Sebastien Berthod, GER, +1:50.7; 5. Anton Shipulin, RUS, +2:12.0



Canadian results:

11. Maxime Leboeuf, Val Bélair, Que., +4:25.7; 12. Brendan Green, Hay River, N.W.T., +4:28.4; 29. Marc-André Bédard, Valcartier, Que., +6:25.2



Youth men top-five results:

1. Florian Graf, GER, 31:09.9; 2. Tarjei Boe, NOR, +16.5; 3. Talgat Golyashov, RUS, +34.3; 4. Dominik Landertinger, AUT, +51.3; 5. Daniel Salvenmoser, AUT, +58.1



Canadian results:

23. Scott Gow, Calgary, +4:36.0; 47. Stuart Lodge, Calgary, +8:21.1



Junior women top-five results:

1. Svetlana Sleptsova, RUS, 25:44.4; 2. Darya Domracheva, RUS, +20.9; 3. Julianne Döll, GER, +29.4; 4. Pauline Macabies, FRA, +55.7; 5.Elena Kozak, RUS, +1:00.8



Canadian results:

20. Megan Imrie, Falcon Lake, Man., +6:24.9; 42. Claude Godbout, Quebec, Que., +10:00.8; 49. Cindy Clark, Canmore, Alta., +11:23.2



Youth women top-five results:

1. Marie Laure Brunet, FRA, 27:04.7; 2. Ksenia Kulikova, RUS, +46.4; 3. Laure Bosc, FRA, +1:19.4; 4. Elise Ringen, NOR, +1:55.8; 5. Ada Ringen, NOR, +2:08.2



Canadian results:

28. Megan Tandy, Prince George, B.C., 6:26.2; 29. Sarah Murphy, Canmore, Alta., +6:55.9; 52. Jessica Sedlock, Victoria, +10:38.1; 53. Tana Chesham, Canmore, Alta., +10:45.5