March 8, 2007 (Holmenkollen, Norway) – Canada’s Zina Kocher was back in form and racing against the world’s best at the Biathlon World Cup, Thursday, in Holmenkollen, Norway. Kocher finished 25th in the women’s 7.5-kilometre sprint, with less than two minutes separating her from the leader.

The Red Deer, Alta. native had been struggling of late, to find the same form that put her on the podium back in November, but today’s finish shows that Kocher is back amongst the elite on the biathlon circuit.

With just one shooting error on the day, the 24-year-old crossed the line in 23 minutes 28.9 seconds, just +1:41 off Germany’s Andrea Henkel who took top spot. The result puts Kocher in a strong position for Saturday’s pursuit race, where the top-60 athletes from the sprint race get a second chance to catch the leaders.

Joining Kocher in the race was Calgarian Sandra Keith, who finished the day in 66th-place, +3:50.7 behind Henkel, unfortunately missing the cut-off for the pursuit.

Russia’s Ekaterina Iourieva was runner-up, +24.8 off Henkel’s winning pace, followed by Magdalena Neuner, of Germany, in third +31.5 behind.

Three Canadians suited up for the men’s 20-kilometre individual. Battling slushy snow proved a big challenge for Edmonton’s Jaime Robb, Camrose, Alta. native David Leoni and Ottawa’s Robin Clegg. The men finished 68th, 90th and 91st, respectively.

“It was a rough day,” said Leoni. “Skiing in the deep slush on any day is challenging, but my legs felt sluggish right from the start. The shooting bouts started out pretty well, but by the end my legs were so shot that I had a hard time with the standing bout.”

Zina Kocher will carry the weight of the team and the nation, as the lone representative for Canada in the women’s 10-kilometre pursuit on Saturday.

For full results please visit www.biathlonworld.com.

Biathlon Canada, the governing body for biathlon in the country, oversees the Canadian Championships, Eastern and Western Canadian Championships, and North American Cups held in Canada. The organization’s mandate is to provide national level programs for the continuous development of biathlon athletes from the grassroots to the elite level. For more information on Biathlon Canada, please visit their website at www.biathloncanada.ca.

Women’s top-five results:
1. Andrea Henkel, GER, 21:47.9
2. Ekaterina Iourieva, RUS, +24.8
3. Magdalena Neuner, GER, +31.5
4. Anna Carin Olofsson, SWE, +36.5
5. Yingchao Kong, CHN, +38.3

Canadian results:
25. Zina Kocher, Red Deer, Alta., +1.41.0
66. Sandra Keith, Calgary, +3:50.7

Men’s top-five results:
1. Raphael Poiree, FRA, 56:51.7
2. Michael Greis, GER, +5.53.
Dmitri Iarochenko, RUS, +28.9
4. Ole Einar Bjoerndalen, NOR, +1:07.6
5. Ivan Tcherezov, RUS, +1:48.9

Canadian results:
68. Jaime Robb, Edmonton, +7:44.1
90. David Leoni, Camrose, Alta., +11:01.5
91. Robin Clegg, Ottawa, +11:05.5