March 01, 2013 (Oslo Holmenkollen, NOR) – A balmy six degrees above zero, hard packed snow, and a partly cloudy sky were ideal conditions for Norway’s own Tora Berger to continue her winning ways by claiming victory on Friday in the women’s 7.5km Sprint.  Berger shot clean to finish with a time of 21:31.2, earning her 3rd victory of the season.

At 12 seconds back, with a time of 21:43.2 and two penalties was Darya Domracheva (Belarus) while 3rd went to Slovakia’s Anastasiya Kuzmina with at time of 22:02.1 and 2 penalties.

Berger finished the 2013 World Championships in a strong fashion by winning both the Pursuit and Individual events in Nove Mesto earlier this season.  Friday’s victory was the 25th of the Norwegian’s career. “It is really fun to take a victory in Holmenkollen,” Berger said in a biathlonworld.com interview.  “This was a really fun day for me.”

A number of North American’s competed in Friday’s Sprint, and Canadian Zina Kocher notched the top NA result with a 42nd place with a time of 23:55.9 and 3 penalties, a result, according to her, was just okay.

Behind the Canadian was American Annelies Cook in 46th, and Canadian Megan Heinicke in 51st place.  Hanah Dreissigacker of the USA was 61st, with Canadian Megan Imrie in 62nd and Amercian Sara Studebaker in 66th.  Rounding out the North American’s were Canadian Rosanna Crawford in 67th and Susan Dunklee in 70th place.

Full results from Friday’s Women’s Sprint can be viewed here.