February 09, 2014 (Krasnaya Polyana, Russia) – The USA’s Susan Dunklee finished a strong 14th in the Olympic women’s 7.5km Sprint but might have landed on the podium if she had not missed the final target in standing. Still the Barton, VT biathlete matched the top Olympic sprint finish ever by a US woman earned by Joan Smith in the 15km at the 1994 Games in Lillehammer.

USA's Dunklee matches top Olympic sprint finish ever by a US woman © Competitive Image / Paul Phillips

The gold went to defending champ Anastasiya Kuzima (SVK) who shot clean for a time of  21:06.8 and with local star Olga Vilukhina of Russia claiming the silver with clean shooting as well at 19.9s. The Ukraine’s Vita Semerenko took home the bronze also with no penalties at 21.7s behind Kuzima. The top five women all shot clean.

“I had really strong skiing today,” said Dunklee. “I feel like I’m peaking at the right time. Prone felt spot on. In standing it felt like I had it after I took that fifth shot, so that was a little heartbreaking, but I was able to laugh at myself and keep going.”

Canada’s Rosanna Crawford lead the Canadians in 25th with one penalty at 1:04 back followed by Megan Imrie in 31st and Zina Kocher in 32nd each suffering one penalty as well.

“I was pretty uneasy when I came to shoot standing – the Russians were finishing and it was so loud! So I had to really try and pull my focus onto me, with this crowd all cheering in Russian,” said Crawford. “My shooting lately had been pretty poor so my confidence kinda got rattled but then during training here things were going really well. I love the range and I had just to make sure to take one shot at a time and focus on me.”

“This course is hard so it was definitely about pacing. Rather than focusing on moving fast I just focused on good technique and I think that’s what gets me up the hills better than if I am scrambling,” she added.

Canada's Zina Kocher © Nancie Battaglia

Kocher was hoping for a better day but it was her best sprint result at the Olympics. “I’ve been having some problems with sprint races this year and this is one of my best, if not my best result. It’s my best sprint at the Olympic Games, so it could be better but I’m satisfied.

“Today I really tried to stay in control and relax and just be in my own game and enjoy it. I’m a lot more relaxed about the Olympics than I was four years ago. I came in four years ago with high expectations and wanting to be like I was in 2007 and I wasn’t.

“At these Games I’ve felt like I took control of my training I changed a lot of things from four years ago and I came here a lot more confident that I think the best thing that I could these past two weeks. I’m really excited about the pursuit. Pursuits are always amazing opportunities to move up and I’ll just focus on my own game and go for it,” commented Kocher.

Final W Sprint podium (l-r) Semerenko 3rd, Kuzmina 1st, Vilukhina 3rd © NordicFocus

Sara Studebaker from Boise, ID placed 44th at 1:52.7 with one penalty. “It is a really hard course and it’s hard to tell how hard you are going. You really have to work on pacing,” said Studebaker, who had her best performce of the season. “I think it’s a good course and I’m looking forward to racing the pursuit.”

Following Studebaker was first-time Olympian Annelies Cook in 53rd with two penalties. “I’m so happy that I finished my first Olympic race,” said Cook. “It is the most amazing feeling. I’m bummed I missed two in standing, but it was one of my better races of the season.”

Canada’s Megan Heinicke was next in 59th suffering three penalities with American Hannah Dreissigacker in 65th with four penalties. “I’m really happy with how I was skiing, and I’m pretty happy with my first shooting with only one miss, but I had three missed in standing, which is too many for this competitive field,” said Dreissigacker.

All of the Canucks along with Dunklee, Studebaker, and Cook qualified to race in Tuesday’s 10km pursuit.

Full results here.