January 28, 2016 (Cheile Gradistei, Romania) – Team USA logged some strong results on Day 2 of the 2016 IBU Youth/Junior World Championships with Sean Doherty scoring bronze in the 15km Junior Men’s Individual event and Madeleine Phaneuf grabbing fifth place in the 12.5km Junior Women’s race.

“I am happy to start the racing with such a strong result,” said Doherty. “Today I felt strong on the skis and very in control on the shooting range. I’m looking forward to the sprint and to more racing to come.”

It was a double Austrian victory with Susanna Kurzthaler (AUT) nabbing the gold in the women’s competition and Felix Leitner (AUT) winning the men’s. Leitner won the men’s race in a time of 41:55.4 and one shooting penalty, while silver medalist Andrea Barretto (ITA) shot clean to trail the winner by 1:50.8.

Doherty had two penalites at 2:01 behind the winner while his teammate Paul Thomas Everett (USA) finished 19th in a time of 48:23.0 and one penalty. The top Canadian was Matthew Strum (CAN) in 41st with three missed targets.

Kurzthaler shot clean to finish 8.6s ahead of Anastasiya Merkushyna (UKR) second place with one penalty. Another clean shooting Austrian was on the podium, as Julia Schwaiger (AUT) took home the bronze.

Phaneuf suffered two penalties and was 53.1s behind the winner while Leilani Tam Von Burg earned top Canuck honours in 30th place also with two missed targets.

“I was so happy with my result today, and it also kept me wanting more,” said Phaneuf. “I’m excited to see that my ski speed is at the top of this competitive field and I’m looking forward to the next few races.”

Results

Junior Women
1. Susanna Kurzthaler (AUT) 39:52.7
2. Anastasiya Merkushyna (UKR) +8.6
3. Julia Schwaiger (AUT) +21.4

5. Madeleine Phaneuf (USA) +53.1
30. Leilani Tam Von Burg (CAN) +4:33.343. Siena Ellingson (USA) +6:28.6
51. Kendall Chong (CAN) +9:20.2
56. Charlotte Hamel (CAN) +10:31.8
64. Caitlin Campbell (CAN) +16:15.6

Junior Men
1. Felix Leitner (AUT) 41:55.4
2. Andrea Barretto (ITA) +1:50.8
3. Sean Doherty (USA) +2:01.1

19. Paul Thomas Everett (USA) +6:27.6
41. Matthew Strum (CAN) +8:35.2
50. Alex Dupuis (CAN) +9:47.2
51. Brian Halligan (USA) +9:54.9
62. Pearce Hanna (CAN) +11:22.2
66. Aidan Millar (CAN) +11:49.5
84. Travis Cooper (USA) +14:51.2

Junior Women here.
Junior Men here.