November 06, 2018 – Following the completion of the Rollerski Team Trials last week in Soldier Hollow, Utah, U.S. Biathlon has announced the roster for the opening BMW IBU World Cup in Pokljuka, Slovenia, Nov. 30-Dec. 9. The roster includes six Olympians from the 2018 PyeongChang Games.

The women’s roster, which has three start spots in Pokljuka, boasts four biathletes with Olympic experience. Susan Dunklee (Barton, Vt.), Clare Egan (Cape Elizabeth, Maine) and Joanne Reid (Palo Alto, Calif.) were pre-qualified for the World Cup roster prior to the rollerski trials. They will be joined by fellow 2018 Olympian Emily Dreissigacker (Morrisville, Vt.). A decision regarding which three athletes will start what races in Pokljuka will be made by the coaching staff at the World Cup.

At the conclusion of the Pokljuka World Cup, one woman will be selected to also compete at the IBU Cup #2 in Ridnaun-Val Ridanna, Italy, Dec. 10-16.

The U.S. men’s World Cup team for Pokljuka will include pre-qualified athletes and two-time Olympians Sean Doherty (Center Conway, N.H.) and Leif Nordgren (Marine, Minn.), along with rollerski trials winner Paul Schommer (Appleton, Wis.) and Travis Cooper (Kenai, Alaska). Because Cooper must compete at the IBU Cup #1, Nov. 26-Dec. 2 in Idre, Sweden, to earn his IBU qualification, Max Durschi (Ketchum, Idaho) will also travel to the World Cup in Pokljuka as a reserve. The men’s team has four start spots at the World Cup.

Selected to race at IBU Cup #2 in Ridnaun-Val Ridanna, Italy, on the women’s team were Hallie Grossman (South Burlington, Vt.), Deedra Irwin (Pulaski, Wis.) and Kelsey Dickinson (Winthrop, Wash.). They will be joined by one member of the BMW IBU World Cup team from Pokljuka to round out the four starting spots.

The men’s four starting spots at the IBU Cup #2 will be filled by Durtschi, Alex Howe (Gilford, N.H.), Jake Brown (St. Paul, Minn.) and Vasek Cervenka (Grand Rapids, Minn.).