March 08, 2011 (Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia) – Norwegian biathlon stud, Tarjei Boe, continued his campaign for the yellow bib with a strong first place finish in Tuesday’s 20km Individual at the IBU World Championships in Khanty-Mansiysk. Boe missed just one shot to finish with time of 48:29.9.

“To win in the relay with your friends is very special, but this first individual gold medal in the World Championships has a more special feeling. I was happy to win the relay but when I win alone it is more emotional; a special moment for me,” said an elated Boe in an IBU release.

Russia’s Maxim Maksimov took silver, finishing 40 seconds behind Boe after a clean day of shooting. Maksimov’s podium finish marks his first since the 2007/2008 season, and the first for the home country at these World Championships.

“This medal is more meaningful for me than my first one in Östersund, especially since it is in Russia. Our whole Russian team has felt great pressure, because we are supposed to do our best here and get more wins here in Russia,” Maksimov told Biathlonworld.com.

Christoph Sumann of Austria captured the final podium spot with the seventh bronze of his career. The 35-year-old hit 19 of his 20 targets to finish with a time of 49:15.4.

“It feels quite good after this long hard season and all of the problems,” Sumann said of the parasite that struck his team earlier in the year, “The first week of the championships was very disappointing for our team. Our goal was to win one medal and it is done now…this is good for me and the whole team…now we can go on and win some more in the relay and mass start.”

Leif Nordgren led the Americans, topping his career best finish from earlier in the week placing 21st. Nordgren missed just one shot to finish with a time of 51:21.1.

“That was really impressive. Throughout the whole season Leif continuously got better from race to race so we’re not that surprised about the result,” said High Performance Director Bernd Eisenbichler in a US Biathlon release, “But to be on the top of your game at the most important event in the whole winter, that really demands for good preparation and mental strength.”

Tim Burke placed 30th with a 3-miss performance and a time of 52:13.9. Coming in 78th was Lowell Bailey, who hit 14 targets for a time of 56:17.3. Jay Hakkinen finished close behind with a 6-miss performance that put him in 80th place.

Scott Perras posted the top Canadian result, hitting 17 of his 20 shots to finish 49th with a time of 53:37.4. Brendan Green placed 64th after a 4-miss race that gave him a time of 55:01.6, and Nathan Smith finished 85th after hitting 14 targets.

Full results HERE.

Results (Brief)

1. Tarjei Boe, NOR (0+0+1+0) 48:29.9
2. Maxim Macksimov, RUS (0+0+0+0) 49:09.9
3. Christoph Sumann, AUT (0+0+0+1) 49:15.4

21. Lief Nordgren, USA (0+0+0+1) 51:21.1
30. Tim Burke, USA (1+1+0+1) 52:13.9
49. Scott Perras, CAN (2+1+0+0) 53:37.4
78. Lowell Bailey, USA (1+3+2+0) 56:17.3
80. Jay Hakkinen, USA (1+1+2+2) 56:29.2
85. Nathan Smith, CAN (2+2+0+2) 57:45.4