March 30, 2008 (Whistler, BC) – This Sunday the USA won the 3x6km mixed relay competitions in both the Open and Junior categories on a beautiful spring day at the final competitions of the 2008 Squamish Life Canadian Biathlon Championships in Whistler Olympic Park.

In the Open race the US team of Tim Burke (Paul Smiths, NY), Haley Johnson (Lake Placid, NY), and Jeremy Teela (Anchorage, AK) were the overall winners with a time of 48:53. The Quebec team of Francois LeBoeuf, of Val Cartier, Claude Godbout, of Quebec City, and Jean-Philippe LeGuellec placed second in 49:01.7 winning the Canadian title, while third went to the US Team of Walt Shepard (Brunswick, ME), Sara Studebaker (Boise, ID), and Jesse Downs (Jericho, VT).

Alberta’s team made up of Edmonton’s Jaime Robb, Zina Kocher, of Red Deer, and Calgary’s Nathan Smith took the silver Canadian Biathlon Championship medal with a time of 49:35.2, while Saskatchewan’s team of Regina’s Scott Perras, Jodi Etcheverry, of North Battleford, and Mat Strachura, held down third spot at 51:52.9.

The US junior team of Leif Nordgren (Marine-on-St. Croix, MN), Laura Spector (Lenox, MA), and Wynn Roberts (Battle Lake, MN) were also the victors with a time of 51:48. The Alberta squad of Stuart Lodge, Rosanna Crawford and Tyson Smith finished second in 52:20.0 and took home the Canadian Biathlon Championships gold medal as the top Canadian team.

The Mixed Relay concluded both the Canadian Championships and the season for the US Biathlon Team. The USA’s Burke summed it up as he left the stadium, “I am going home for a few days, then a week or so of vacation in the Florida Keys to relax and get ready for the first camp of the new year in about three weeks. Actually, I feel very good and cannot wait to start training for next year.”