January 18, 2013 (Antholz-Anterselva ITA) – Russia’s Anton Shipulin blazed his way to his 1st World Cup victory of the season Friday in Antholz, shooting clean and clocking a time of 22:45.8.  Second went to Norway’s Emil Hegle Svendsen with a time of 22:58.6 with two penalties and Jakov Fak of Slovenia finished third in a time of 23:06.2 with one penalty.

Lowell Bailey (Lake Placid, NY) races to a 7th place finish in today's 10-kilometer sprint at the IBU World Cup in Antholz-Anterselva, Italy. © US Biathlon/Nordic Focus

Shipulin said biathlonworld.com interview, “Antholz is my favorite place. I always look forward to coming here. I had some shooting problems earlier this season, but today I decided to concentrate on this race and my shooting. My sister’s win was good motivation for me.”

American Lowell Bailey raced to a 7th place finish with clean shooting and clocked a time of 23:26.1.  “Today everything came together,” said Bailey in a team release. “I felt good on the track and felt solid and composed in the range. I left a little in the tank for the last lap and I guess that proved pretty important in the end!  Really looking forward to tomorrow!” With today’s performance, Bailey moves into 29th place in the overall World Cup standings.

Fellow Americans Leif Nordgren and Tim Burke placed 40th and 45th respectively.  Canadians Jean Philippe Leguellec, Scott Perras, and Scott Gow were 58th, 60th, and 67th, while Americans Russell Currier and Jay Hakkinen rounded out the North American results in 85th and 94th place. Racing continues Saturday from Antholz-Anterselva with the Women’s 10 km and Men’s 12.5 km Pursuits.

Full results here