February 12, 2007 (Antholz, Italy) – Hoping for a top-10 finish, it was a bittersweet ending for the Canadian women’s relay team at the Biathlon World Championships in Italy. The team crossed the line in 14th-place, eight minutes 39.2 seconds behind the winning team from Germany.

It was a tough day for the veterans on the Canuck squad. Red Deer’s Zina Kocher took the first leg, using up four extra rounds on the range before tagging off to Sandra Keith, of Calgary. Keith also struggled on the range and ended up skiing the team’s only penalty loop.

“It was not quite the day we were hoping for,” said Keith, “I had to ski a penalty loop which cost us a lot of time. Our hopes were for a top-10, so as a team, we did not meet our goal.”

Marie-Pierre Parent, of St.-Paul de Joliette, Que., put together the team’s strongest performance, shooting clean before tagging off to World Championship rookie, Sonya Erasmus, of Vanderhoof, B.C. Erasmus followed Parent’s lead, logging only one miss before stopping the clock for the team.

“Marie-Pierre and Sonya both put together terrific performances for the team today,” said Keith. “I think Zina and I had higher hopes for our shooting performances, and it would have been great to end this World Championships with a season-best performance. We just have to move forward, knowing that everyone on this team can perform well. It’s just a matter of putting it together on the same day.”

The German women took top spot on the podium, completing their four laps in one hour 14 minutes 19.13 seconds. France was second +1:07.8 off the quick pace set by the Germans, while Norway was third +1:29.7 behind.

Women (brief)
1. Germany, 1:14:19.13
2. France, +1:07.8
3. Norway, +1:29.7
4. Slovenia, +1:52.7
5. Belarus, +1:58.1

14. Canada (Zina Kocher, Red Deer, Alta., Sandra Keith, Calgary, Sonya Erasmus, Vanderhoof, B.C., Marie-Pierre Parent, St-Paul de Joliette, Que.) +8:39.2

For full results please visit www.biathlonworld.com.