January 11, 2013 (Ruhpolding  Germany) – No wind and fast tracks was evidence of a big change in conditions in Ruhpolding for the IBU Women’s 7.5km Sprint allowing Germany’s Miriam Gössner to claim victory with a time of 20:57.2 and only one penalty. Second went to Belarus star Darya Domracheva, also with one penalty at 7.1 seconds back. Finland’s Kaisa Mäkäräinen took the final podium spot third, also with a single penalty, 17.5 seconds back.

“I did not expect to win after the penalty in standing,” said Gössner in a biathlonworld.com report. “In Ruhpolding, the top finishers are always quite close. I expected someone to shoot clean and win. But I was lucky and am quite happy about it.”

Meanwhile American Annelies Cook benefited from the stable conditions to nail a career-best sprint finish. Shooting clean in both stages on the range, Cook posted a time of 22:22.0 for 26th place at 1:24.8 minutes behind Gössner.

“Today was a performance I have been hoping to finally have,” Cook explained. “It was my personal best so far, and that is always an awesome feeling. I have been a bit frustrated with shooting lately especially because I think there has been an improvement in skiing, so it felt wonderful to clean all my targets!  Before the race, I told myself that I needed to hit all my targets to do well and then I thought to myself, no that’s not right. I WANT to hit my targets and I am GOING to hit my targets. Who knows if that worked, but you start to get superstitious sometimes!

“It was a totally different day on skis than the relay,” Cook added. “The relay was fast, icy snow and today there was fresh powder that was quite dry and sticky. It made the skiing very difficult for me and I think for everyone. Even though the course wasn’t that difficult, with the snow conditions it was super hard.

“Right down the middle of the track was a glazed section where everyone would ski and that was quite slippery, but as soon as your skis hit any new snow, they would immediately slow down. So your balance muscles got completely tight immediately and there was nowhere to ski powerfully and relaxed. My legs were killing me!”

Cook’s teammate Sara Studebaker also had a strong race today with clean shooting, finishing 33rd (up from a start at 55) with a time of 22:29.7. “Today was definitely tough conditions, and I was happy to be able to capitalize on our great skis and shoot well,” Studebaker said in the team release. “This was a big step for me as I finally felt good skiing. I feel like things are definitely on the upswing for me, and I’m looking forward to Antholz and then heading to World Champs!”

Zina Kocher was the top Canuck finishing in 52nd with American Susan Dunklee right behind her in 53rd place.  Canadian’s Megan Heinicke, Rosanna Crawford, and Audrey Vaillancourt finished 63rd, 65th, & 81st respectively. Racing continues in Ruhpolding on Saturday with the men’s 10km Sprint.

Full results from the Women’s Sprint can be viewed here.