April 10, 2011 (Khanty Mansiysk, Russia) – Brian McKeever put a silver lining around Canada’s best-ever IPC World Championships when he finished second in the men’s visually impaired biathlon distance competition on Sunday in Khanty Mansiysk, Russia.

McKeever, of Canmore, Alta., and his new Calgary-based guide, Erik Carleton, who specialize in cross-country skiing were a last-minute addition to the 12.5-kilometre biathlon event where theyshocked the world’s best to finish second with a time of 41 minutes, 57.3 seconds. With little practice in the shooting range, the 10-time Paralympic medallist missed just two shots in his four rounds of shooting.

“I just tried to remember everything I had been taught and took my time in the range today,” said McKeever. “Since I don’t shoot that often I knew I had to ski a little slower than normal and take my time in the range so I didn’t miss to many targets. It paid off and we are really happy.”

McKeever and Carleton were not able to catch the dominant Russian team of Nikolay Polukhin and Andrey Tokarev who dominated the field by winning the gold medal with a time of 38:22.1. Anatolii Kovalevskyi and Borys Babar, of the Ukraine, rounded out the visually impaired men’s podium in third spot at 42:51.6.

Canada’s 21-year-old rising star in the sport, Mark Arendz of Springton, P.E.I., had his third fourth-place finish of the week in the men’s 12.5-kilometre standing event. Arendz, who finished second overall on the IPC Biathlon World Cup this year, had another strong day in the range to grab fourth spot with a time of 40:15.3.

Grygorii Vovchynskyi, also of the Ukraine, won the category with a time of 39:03.2.

Canada’s Jody Barber, of Smithers, B.C., was the only other Canuck to suit up on the final day of the 2011 IPCWorld Championships. The 2010 Paralympian placed fifth in the women’s12.5-kilometre standing category with a time of 53:47.9. The Ukraine’s Oleksandra Kononova took the gold at 49:43.3.

Canada’s Para-Nordic athletes combined to win seven medals including five gold and two silver to complete the nation’s best-ever finish at the IPC World Championships or Paralympics. Led by Brian McKeever’s three golds and one silver, the week will be remembered for Canada’s sit-skiers making history by claiming double-gold in the cross-country skiing distance races.

“Cross Country Canada made a concentrated effort on sending our best team of athletes and support staff to the World Championships and our results shows what is possible when we focus our resources,” said Robin McKeever, who is the team coach and guide for his brother Brian but was forced to the sidelines with an ACL injury.

Complete results HERE.