February 20, 2017 (Hochfilzen, Austria) – American Lowell Bailey was in the medal hunt again claiming 6th in the men’s 15km Mass Start at the IBU World Championship as Germany’s Simon Schempp took the win. Norway’s Johannes Thingnes Bø raced overtook Austria’s Simon Eder for the silver in the run to the finish.

It wasn’t until the final lap that the medals were decided as Bailey shot clean posting the third fastest overall range time on the day was leading but ran out of gas.

“I was able to hang for four laps and I just told myself to hang as long as I could,” said Bailey said. “Unfortunately I only had four laps and the fifth was brutal as they say in Germany. But I’m so psyched with this whole world champs.” The American has had an incredible world champs, finishing fourth in the sprint, and winning the gold medal in the 20km individual. Indeed, Bailey has been remarkably consistent through these championships, skiing well and shooting close to perfect – only missing only one shot out of 70 in four individual races.

Right out of the start Bailey moved up into the lead pack, entering the range for the first prone shooting stage in 5th. One of 18 skiers to shoot clean in the first stage, Bailey left the range in second, just behind Russia’s Anton Shipulin. In the second shooting stage, Bailey again shot clean and was the first out of the range.

France’s Martin Fourcade led into the final shooting stage after recovering from a miss in the first shooting stage, and it seemed  inevitable that he would clinch another gold. But Fourcade missed two in the final stage, and Eder, Schempp, and Bailey cleaned to leave the range for their final lap. Bailey made a heroic effort to hang on for a medal, but Schempp stepped up the pace to catch Eder, and Bailey dropped to third.

At the front Schempp dropped Eder on the course’s challenging climbs, but Bailey had more to worry about coming up behind him. Norway’s Bø charged hard out of the final shooting stage, ultimately catching both Bailey and Eder to claim the silver at 9 seconds behind Schempp. Eder cruised in for the bronze, and Bailey was ultimately caught and passed by Shipulin and Fourcade.

“I’m so happy for the team, for Susan,” Bailey said. “Our whole team deserves this world champs. We haven’t shown what we’re capable of, there’s always been one setback or another. We were waiting for this moment and everything clicked for the team and it’s so great to see, and god, am I glad I stuck around to be here.”

No matter what happens at the Olympic Games next year in PyeongChang, Bailey will undoubtedly remember these world championships for the rest of his life.

Results here.