January 18, 2014 (Antholz, Italy) – Germany’s Andrea Henkel shot clean to take home the victory in the women’s 10km Pursuit in Antholz, Italy today holding off all challengers including second-placed Nadezhda Skardino (Blr) who cleaned all targets as well, along with top Norwegian, Tora Berger, who suffered three penalties finishing 6.6 seconds behind Henkel.

The USA’s Susan Dunklee placed 24th with five misses while teammate Sara Studebaker finished 48th suffering four penalties. Megan Heinicke was lone Canadian who qualified but did not start.

“Today didn’t go quite as well as I had hoped, but I feel good about many parts of the race,” said Dunklee. “I kept up with Andrea, the eventually race winner, for a couple loops and kept my focus well on the range.  I had a couple small snafus like a broken pole and a lost clip, but one poor standing stage is what really dropped me down the results.”

Andrea Henkel (GER) © Nordic Focus

Belarus star Darya Domracheva squandered an early lead with two penalties in the first standing session as Henkel, Skardino, France’s Anais Bescond, and Sweden’s Kaisa Makarainen all cleaned to move into the lead. Berger, who was just behind, suffered two misses as well while Domracheva pushed hard to rejoin the leaders.

In the final standing Henkel and Skardino cleaned as the others faltered losing their chance for a podium. But Berger kept her cool and cleaned all targets in the final standing to claim third.

“Each loop was pretty hard and not just the last one. I knew Skardino, might come closer. I thought if I still had the lead at the Huberalm, then I had a chance. In the stadium I did not feel her so close and then I knew I could win,” commented Henkel to Biathlonworld.com

Full results here