December 16, 2013 (Coleraine, MN) – The second of three time trials races was held today in Mt. Itasca, MN, to determine the winter US Biathlon IBU Cup team, and to earn a possible nomination to the 2014 U.S. Olympic Biathlon Team.

Casey Smith (Winthrop WA/ Maine Winter Sports Center) and Tracy Barnes (Duragno, CO/Durango Biathlon) won their respective time trials today. Extended results from today’s races can be found here. Racing in Mt. Itasca will resume tomorrow with a mass start competition, and the final time trail race on Wednesday.

Following the competition, one woman and two men will join Lanny Barnes (Durango, CO), Sara Studebaker (Boise, ID) and Hannah Dreissigacker (Morrisville, VT) at the IBU Cup in Ridnaun, Italy, January 3-5, 2014. Two men will also join Jeremy Teela (Heber City, UT) and Sean Doherty (Center Conway, NH) in Ridnaun.

Three women and two men will be nominated to the 2014 Olympic team from those IBU Cup races.

Casey Smith © Judy Geer