March 20, 2011 (Mt. Itasca, Coleraine, MN) – A beautiful March day greeted the athletes for Day two of the U.S. Biathlon National Championship on Saturday.  The women’s 10km Pursuit came down to a battle on the skis, as Annelies Cook (Saranac Lake, NY), Tracy Barnes (Durango, CO), and Lanny Barnes (Durango, CO) all shot clean for both prone stages.

Cook picked up three penalties in standing, while the Barnes twins each picked up two penalties a piece. Cook was able to ski fast enough to take the victory, with Tracy Barnes and Lanny Barnes finishing second and third, respectively.

The senior men’s 12.5km race was punctuated with many more penalties. Bill Bowler (Wausau, WI) held the early lead, hitting nine of 10 prone targets, but seven standing misses over the two standing stages pushed him back to fourth place at the finish [Bowler won the men’s 10km Sprint on day one]. Wynn Roberts (Battle Lake, MN) was able to overcome eight total penalties with a good final standing stage and fast skiing for first place.  Mark Johnson (Grand Rapids, MN) had the best shooting with five penalties and finished second, only 8 seconds back. Russell Currier (Caribou, ME) put on the afterburners to finish 31 seconds out, with nine penalties and a big crash in the first loop.

Mt. Itasca has hosted at least one major national biathlon event annually since the development of the Biathlon/Nordic center in 2000.  Snowmaking and all grooming are run completely by volunteers, and the quality of skiing for these nationals has been truly world class.

On Day 1 the Sprints were held with Susan Dunklee (Craftsbury GRP) taking the senior women’s 7.5km sprint title while Bill Bowler (USBA) took the men’s 10km title – full sprint results HERE.

Full Day 2 Pursuit results are available HERE.

The 2011 National Championships conclude Sunday with Mass Start events in seven men’s and six women’s categories.