March 18, 2010 (Oslo, NOR) – Simone Hauswald will retire after this season, but she will go out on top. The German won Thursday’s IBU World Cup 7.5km Sprint, held at the newly renovated Holmenkollen stadium in Oslo. Belarus biathlete Darya Domracheva had won the last two events and both she and Hauswald shot clean, but it was the German finishing with a time of 20:42.4, just 4.9 seconds ahead. Sweden’s Anna Carin Olofsson was 3rd, 14.4 seconds back.

Brendan Green (CAN) © Heinz Ruckemann file photo

Megan Imrie led the Canadian women’s team in 35th with a time just 1:54.5 behind Hauswald. Megan Tandy, and Rosanna Crawford finished in 50th, and 68th – all missed just one shot along with Imrie.  Zina Kocher had a tough day missing three shots to finish in 58th.

Sara Studebacker continues to lead the U.S. team. She missed one shot as well to finish in 46th at +2:24.2 while Lanny Barnes was 72nd at +3:27.8 behind. The conditions in the stadium were almost perfect. Only two women in the top 30 finishers had more than one penalty, and seven of the top 12 shot clean.

Men’s 10km Sprint
Martin Fourcade of France skied a blistering pace and shot clean at the first IBU World Cup race held at the new Holmenkollen stadium and courses. Conditions for 10km Sprint were perfect and the top seven men shot clean. Fourcade’s sprint carried him in with a time of 26:08.1 for the win while Russia’s Maxim Tchoudov was second at 7.1 seconds back, and Christoph Sumann of Austria was third.

Canada brought a full team of veterans and novices with Brendan Green leading the charge placing 32nd at 1:37.2 behind Fourcade. Jean Philippe LeGuellec was 69th at +2:20.7 and Scott Perras and Nathan Smith were 80th and 87th.

The USA’s Tim Burke and Lowell Bailey did not have a good day on the range. Burke missed three shots to place 44th while Bailey missed four and came in an uncharacteristic 90th. Young rising star Leif Nordgren missed just one shot to place 62nd.

The events continue on Saturday, March 20th, with the Women’s 12.5km and the Men’ 15km Pursuit.

With files from the International Biathlon Union.

Full results for women here
Full results for men here

Results (brief)

Women
1.    Simone Hauswald (GER) T0, 20:42.4
2.    Darya Domracheva (BLR) T0, +4.9
3.    Anna Carin Olofsson-Zidek (SWE) T0, +14.4

35. Megan Imrie (CAN) T1, +1:54.5
46. Sara Studebaker (USA) T1, +2:24.2
50. Megan Tandy (CAN) T1, +2:27.8
58. Zina Kocher (CAN) T3, +2:42.9
68. Rosanna Crawford (CAN) T1, +3:14.0
72. Lanny Barnes (USA) T2, +3:27.8

Men

1.    Martin Fourcade (FRA) T0/26:08.1
2.    Maxim Tchoudov (RUS) T0, +7.1
3.    Christoph Sumann (AUT) T0, +9.4

32. Brendan Green (CAN) T1, +1:37.2
44. Tim Burke (USA) T3 +1:52.7
62. Leif Nordgren (USA) T1, +2:12.6
69. Jean Philippe LeGuellec (CAN) T1 +2:20.7
80. Scott Perras (CAN) T1 +2:49.6
87. Nathan Smith (CAN) T2, +3:11.5
90. Lowell Bailey (USA) T4, +3:18.9