March 07, 2019 (Ostersund, Sweden) – Team Canada finished 16th and the USA was 19th in the Mixed Relay won by Norway as the 2019 IBU Biathlon World Championships kicked off in Ostersund, Sweden on Thursday.

Biathlon Canada’s Rosanna Crawford, Sarah Beaudry, Christian and Scott Gow had one penalty and used eight spares en route to their 16th-place finish at 4:35.5 behind Norway.

The U.S foursome of Susan Dunklee, Clare Egan, Sean Doherty, and Leif Nordgren, crossed the line at 7:21.2 back with three penalties and 13 spare rounds on the shooting range.

The Norwegian team of Marte Olsbu Roeiseland, Tiril Eckhoff, Johannes Thingnes Boe and Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen pulled away in the last two legs to claim the gold medal with seven spares. Germany, with nine spares, won the silver at 13.1 seconds back. Italy used 14 spares to take the bronze at 1:09.6 behind Norway.

“Today we had a pretty soft course with snowfall throughout the day. It’s a good sign to start off the week here. Tough to have it come undone at the end, but that’s biathlon and there will be more races for redemption,” said Doherty.

Brief resulsts below and full results here.

1. Norway 1:17:41.4/0+7
Marte Olsbu Roeiseland
Tiril Eckhoff
Johannes Thingnes Boe
Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen

2. Germany 13.1/0+9
Vanessa Hinz
Denise Herrmann
Arnd Peiffer
Benedikt Doll

3. Italy 1:09.6/0+14
Lisa Vittozzi
Dorothea Wierer
Lukas Hofer
Dominik Windisch

16. Canada 4:35.5/1+8
Rosanna Crawford
Sarah Beaudry
Christian Gow
Scott Gow

19. USA 7:21.2/3+13
Sussn Dunklee
Clare Egan
Sean Doherty
Leif Nordgren