January 12, 2019 (Oberhof, Germany) – The USA’s Susan Dunklee claimed 7th in the women’s 10km Pursuit in in Oberhof for her best performance of the season despite five penalties in challenging conditions

Snow showers and blustery wind on the shooting range resulted in none of the 57 women shooting clean. Italy’s Lisa Vittozzi won with two penalties while Anastasiya Kuzmina of Slovakia took second with four penalties at 14.5 seconds back and France’s Anais Chevalier was third with five penalties at 27.9 seconds behind.

The USA’s Clare Egan Emma had seven penalties to finish 33rd while Emma Lunder was the top Canuck in 39th with six missed targets

“The skiing and shooting were both tricky today,” said Dunklee. “We had constantly changing gusts on the range which meant more trips to the penalty loop than normal for most athletes. The tracks were glazed with sections that felt more like an ice rink than a ski trail.”

Sean Doherty, the lone U.S. competitor in the 12.5km men’s pursuit, moved up from his 22nd start position to finish 18th with two penalties. The lone Canuck was Christian Gow in 27th also with two penalties.

Norway’s Johannes Thingnes Boe won the men’s pursuit with three penalties in 34:29.8. Germany’s Arnd Peiffer, with one penalty, took second winning a finish-line sprint over Italy’s Lukas Hofer to place 15.1 seconds behind Boe.