January 08, 2012 (Forni Avoltri, Italy) – North Americans had a strong showing on Saturday at the IBU Cup in Forni Avoltri. Canada’s Nathan Smith, a 26-year-old from Calgary, continued his hot hand posting a sixth-place finish in the men’s 20km individual start competition won by Germany’s Erik Lesser with a time of 53:24.1 and clean shooting.

Smith made history as one of a few Canadians to win a IBU Cup medal when he was third just prior to the holiday break. On Saturday he missed three shots in his four rounds of shooting to clock a time of 56 minutes, 24.6 seconds.

American Russell Currier from Stockholm, ME, placed 7th just behind Smith with a time of 56:24.8 also missing three shots. Canada’s Scott Perras suffered the same record on the range en route to a top-10 finish placing 10th with a time of 57:04.1.

Norway’s Lars Helge Birkeland was second on the day at 54:38.0, while Germany’s Daneil Graf claimed the bronze with a time of 55:10.0.

Calgary’s Scott Gow, who was fourth in the race Smith medalled in, finished 27th while Marc-Andre Bedard, of Valcartier, Que., was 59th.

In the women’s 15km individual start American Tracy Barnes from Durango, CO took 7th posting a time of 48:13.8 with two penalties at 2:17.6 minutes back from today’s winner Jacquemine Baud (FRA) with a time of 45:56.2  and clean shooting.

Germany’s Maren Hammerschmidt claimed the silver at 46:17.6, while Poland’s Paulina Bobak locked up third place with a time of 47:37.4.

Quebec’s Yolaine Oddou was a strong 14th missing three shots to post a time of 49:27.2. Melanie Schutlz, of Camrose, Alta., was 25th (50:32.9); Rosanna Crawford, of Canmore, Alta., finished 40th (51:35.0); and Quebec’s Claude Godbout was 59th (54:31.7).

Women 15 km Individual HERE.
Men’s 20km individual HERE.