January 19, 2013 (Antholz-Anterselva ITA) – Russia’s Anton Shipulin dominated from start to finish in Saturday’s Pursuit with strong skiing winning with a time of 31:24.2, despite two penalties.  Slovenia’s Jakov Fak was second with a time of 31:46.8 and one penalty while Austria’s Daniel Mesotitsch finished 3rd with a time of 31:50 and 1 penalty.

Anton Shipulin (RUS) © Nordic Focus

“I prepared myself for victory today even though it was a strong field. I am happy that I managed to win.” Shipulin told biathlonworld.com  “There is a lot of internal competition in our team, but this helps us move forward and makes us strong.”

USA’s Tim Burke had an outstanding performance.  With the third best net-time of the day, Burke moved from 45th to 14th finishing with a time of 32:47.6 with 2 penalties.  Fellow American Lowell Bailey finished 16th with a time of 32:50.9 (0+1+1+1). Bailey held on among the top-10 throughout the first half of the race, reaching as high as 4th place, but penalties at the range slowed Bailey down in the latter half of the race.

Tim Burke (USA) © Nordic Focus

“After a disappointing performance yesterday, I am very happy with the race today,” said Burke in a team release. “I finally felt like I had the ski speed that has been missing for much of the season, and I was also in more control on the shooting range today. Biathlon is a crazy sport and you can have big swings from one day to the next, but that is also what makes it so fun! I hope this is a good sign with World Championships only a few weeks away.”

Jean Philippe Leguellec was the top Canadian in 39th place with a time of 34:29.2 and 4 penalties with teammate Scott Perras in 43rd place in a time of 35:13.3 and 5 penalties. Racing wraps up Sunday in Antholz-Anterselva with the Men & Women’s Relays.

Berger Comes From Behind to Take Pursuit
Norway’s Tora Berger came from 14th at the start to claim victory Saturday in the Women’s 10km Pursuit, posting a time of 31:21.8 with two penalties.  Olena Pidhrushna of Ukraine finished 2nd, 18.9 seconds back with one penalty while Finland’s Kaisa Mäkäräinen claimed third, with four penalties, 25.4 seconds back.

Tora Berger (NOR) © Nordic Focus file photo

“I really did not expect to win when I got up this morning… After a penalty in the second shooting, I thought there was no possibility to win,” Berger told biathlonworld.com.  “I was surprised that I was in first after the last shooting. Then I saw the possibility to win I tried to go as fast as possible.”  With this 3rd victory of the 2012/13 season, Berger’s career total not sits at 22 World Cup wins.

American Annelies Cook led the North American women with a 37th place finish, posting a time of 35:40.5 and 7 penalties.  Fellow American Sara Studebaker finished 39th, while teammate Susan Dunklee finished 44th.  Canadian’s Zina Kocher and Audrey Vaillancourt finished 45th and 49th respectively.

The Antholz-Anterselva World Cup wraps up Sunday with the Men’s & Women’s Relays.

Full women’s results HERE.
Full men’s results HERE.