December 7, 2007 (Hochfilzen, Austria) – Canada’s Jean-Philippe LeGuellec took advantage of warm conditions to post his best World Cup result of the season with a 23rd-place finish in the men’s 10-kilometre biathlon race in Holchfilzen, Austria.

The Shannon, Que. native finished one minute 36.8 seconds behind the leading mark of 23:57.8 set by Russia’s Dmitri Yaroshenko. The sprint event consists of athletes racing three times around the 3.3-kilometre track. Athletes enter the shooting range for a set of shots in the prone position, then one set standing before the final sprint to the finish. LeGuellec missed only one shot standing.

“The race went really well today and I’m finally on track to where I need to be,” said LeGuellec, who is striving for top-30 results this season on a consistent basis. “My skis were fast today and the range was great so overall I am very happy.”

The 22-year-old, who had a difficult start to the World Cup season last week, credits the ability to feel his hands in the shooting range as the reason for the quick turnaround in results.

“My hands were frozen because it was so cold last week and that really didn’t help my shooting,” said LeGuellec, who hails from Shannon, Que. “Today it was a lot more warmer, I was more comfortable out there and was able to maintain good shape.”

Norway’s Ole Einar Bjoerndalen settled for the silver medal just 37.7 seconds behind the leader. Russia’s Andrei Makoveev was third (+51).

Other Canadian results included: Robin Clegg, of Ottawa in 87th (+3:51.0); while Megan Imrie, of Falcon Lake, Man., was 74th (+3:22.4) and Calgary’s Sandra Keith 78th (+3:38.) in the women’s 7.5-kilometre sprint race which was won by Sandrine Bailly, of France, (21:53.0)

Meanwhile, Maxime Leboeuf, of Val Belair, Que., continues to lead the next generation of Canadian biathletes at the European Cup races which are also taking place in Austria. The 20-year-old Leboeuf, who has been a mainstay at the top of the pack this season, finished 11th in Thursday’s distance race and 17th in Friday’s sprint which boasted a field of more than 100 athletes from around the world. Leboeuf finished +1:54.3 behind the eventual winner – Arnd Pfeiffer, of Germany, who stopped the clock at 24:22.9

Regina’s Scott Perras led the Canucks in the men’s 10-kilometre sprint event on the European Cup. Perras finished in 40th spot (+2:02.04), while his teammate, Jaime Robb, of Edmonton, was 41st (+2:03.8). Other Canadian results included: Nathan Smith, of Calgary, was 61st (+3:01.0); Fracois Leboeuf, of Val Belair, Que., was 66th (+3:18.0); and Patrick Cote, of Canmore, Alta., was 78th (+4:03.8).

Russia’s Andrei Prokunin claimed the top spot on the men’s European Cup podium with a time of 23:20.9.

Results

Men (brief)
1. Dmitri Yaroshenko, RUS, 23:57.8
2. Ole Einar Bjoerndalen, NOR, +37.7
3. Andrei Makoveev, RUS, +3:01.0
4. Carl Johan Bergman, SWE, +55.2
5. Ivan Tcherezov, RUS, +1:02.3.

23. Jean-Philippe LeGuellec, Shannon, Que., +1:36.8
87. Robin Clegg, Ottawa, +3:51.0

Women (brief)
1. Sandrine Bailly, FRA, 21:53.0
2. Ekaterina Iourieva, RUS, +18.8
3. Kati Wilhelm, GER, +33.9
4. Tora Berger, NOR, +49.1
5. Sabrina Buchholz, GER, +51.8.

74. Megan Imrie, Falcon Lake, Man., +3:22.4
78. Sandra Keith, Calgary, +3:38.0