March 3, 2007 – It was a day for sharp shooting women, as twenty out of 84 competitors hit all 10 targets in Friday’s 7.5-kilometre sprint event, in Lahti, Finland.

Germany’s Martina Glagow scored her first win of the season, narrowly edging out teammate Kati Wilhelm by just four seconds, for a total time of 21 minutes 18.3 seconds. Russia’s Ekaterina Iourieva had the lead after the last shooting session but was unable to hold off the fast German women, settling for the bronze medal, +5.9 behind Glagow.

The Canadian women were not on the mark in the range today. Calgary’s Sandra Keith was the top Canuck, in 56th-place (+3:03.5), after three shooting errors left her out of the running for top spot. Red Deer, Alta. native, Zina Kocher, had an equally troubling day on the range. Kocher’s four shooting errors put her in 62nd spot (+3:19.2), and out of Sunday’s pursuit race.

Robin Clegg, David Leoni and Jaime Robb will suit up for Canada in the men’s 10-kilometre sprint race on Saturday.

Women’s top-five results:

1. Martina Glagow, GER, 21:18.3; 2. Kati Wilhelm, GER, +4.0; 3. Ekaterina Iourieva, RUS, +5.9; 4. Andrea Henkel, GER, +7.3; 5. Kathrin Hitzer, GER, +13.5

Canadian results:

56. Sandra Keith, Calgary, +3:03.5; 62. Zina Kocher, Red Deer, Alta., +3:19.2