February 12, 2011 (Fort Kent, Maine) – Andrea Henkel of Germany matched Emil Hegle Svendsen by taking her second victory in row when she captured the women’s 10km pursuit competition in 31:09.1 over her teammate Magdalena Neuner. Henkel had a single penalty while Neuner had three finishing 24.8 seconds back. Third went to Marie Dorin of France, who shot clean but was 53.6 seconds back.

Henkel and Miriam Gössner set an early pace when Neuner slipped out of the lead group after two prone penalties in the first stage. In the first standing stage, Henkel missed one shot but retained the lead, as Gössner had four penalties. Neuner was moving up as she shot clean in the first standing stage.

At the same time, seventh starting Dorin was moving through the field and into third position with three clean stages. In the final standing stage, Henkel and Neuner shot side-by-side and Henkel cleaned while Neuner had to take a penalty loop.

Neuner commented on her challenge of Henkel in the final standing stage. “It was a little moment and then I shot the mistake. If I shot zero, then maybe I would win.”

Henkel’s 20th World Cup victory today left her smiling, but not taking the win for granted. “I go to a race and want to do my best, but I never expect to win,” noted the humble winner. “I try to but I do not start and think, ‘I think I will win.’ That never happens, but I am happy that it happened two times in row.”

After being second today and third yesterday, Neuner commented on her prospects of a victory in Sunday’s mass start. “I am always ready for a win. But I have to make a good competition; shoot four times and ski the Mount Everest of biathlon five times. I think it will be a tough race tomorrow but I think my chances are good.”

Like Neuner, third place Dorin would like to top the podium tomorrow; reiterating that she wants to win this season and up the ante on her two podiums in the USA, one last week in Presque Isle and this one.  “I have enjoyed these two weeks here, but I hope it gets better. I want to win a race this year, so perhaps. . .”

Sara Studebaker of the USA was not able to improve on her 17th place in the sprint, finishing 27th today with three penalties, at 4:30.6 behind the winner. Yet that was good enough to earn her a spot in the women’s 12.5km mass start competition tomorrow, based on her combined results in the sprint and pursuit. This will be her first attempt at a World Cup mass start. She will be the only US or Canadian biathlete competing on the final day tomorrow in Fort Kent.

Tora Berger of Norway finished fourth, with three penalties, 1:06.9 back, 9.6 seconds ahead of the Yellow Bib Kaisa Mäkäräinen of Finland, with two penalties. Mäkäräinen maintained her top spot, but now is only five points ahead of Henkel in the title chase.

Full results HERE.