March 12, 2010 (Kontiolahti, Finland) – Norway topped the field at the mixed-relay 2x6km and 2×7.5km test event in Kontiolahti, Finland as Germany claimed second while Italy was third. Canada’s Megan Imrie, Zina Kocher, Scott Perras and Brendan Green, teamed up to finish 10th while the U.S. mixed-relay team included Sara Studebaker, Lanny Barnes, Lowell Bailey and Leif Nordgren (Marine-on-St. Croix, MN) placed 12th.

The Norwegian team included some of their best athletes such as Olympic Champions Tora Berger, Halvard Hanevold, Tarjei Boe along with Ann Kristin Aafedt Flatland.

“Our goal was to finish in the top-eight today so we were a little disappointed with 10th,” said Megan Imrie, who had one of her best races of the year. “We know that with good shooting and no penalty loops we can be in the top-six and even fighting for a podium on a perfect day.”

Studebaker placed the U.S. team in a solid position with a clean prone standing, while she struggled at standing. Still, Studebaker managed to stay out of the penalty loop with three extras needed. Lanny Barnes showed an incredible shooting performance as she was one of only few athletes today who did not need any extras to clean all ten targets. Lowell Bailey needed three extras in standing but showed the sixth best loop time of the men before he handed over to Nordgren who finished just seconds after the 2007 Mixed-Relay World Champion Sweden.

Full results here.

With files from Biathlon Canada and US Biathlon