February 23, 2011 (New Gloucester, Maine) – The U.S. Biathlon Association’s International Competition Committee is pleased to announce the roster for the 2011 IBU World Championships, March 3-13, 2011 in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia. The eight-member squad is comprised of six Olympians and two talented newcomers.

U.S. Biathlon 2011 World Championship Team
– Lowell Bailey (Lake Placid, N.Y.) 2006, 2010 Olympian
– Tim Burke (Paul Smiths N.Y.) 2006, 2010 Olympian
– Annelies Cook (Saranac Lake, N.Y.)
– Jay Hakkinen (Kasiloff, AK) 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010 Olympian
– Haley Johnson (Lake Placid, N.Y.) 2010 Olympian
– Leif Nordgren (Marine, MN)
– Laura Spector (Lenox, MA) 2010 Olympian
– Sara Studebaker (Boise, ID) 2010 Olympian

“At the World Cups in Maine, Sara Studebaker posted her best ever performance with a 14th place, as did Lowell Bailey with his dramatic ninth place finish in the the Mass Start. Those results were the best of this season for both the men and the women and demonstrate that the team is on it’s way up for the World Championships,” said Max Cobb, U.S. Biathlon CEO.

“It’s still new for us to have the World Championships in March, so the peaking this season has been tricky. Tim Burke is getting back to his training after some weeks of illness in February so we hope he’ll be fit for the worlds. I think we will see our women in the top-15 at the worlds and this is a very exciting for all of us.

“It is also particularly exciting to have Leif Nordgren on the World Championship team given that he is only in his first year after being a junior competitor. He’s done a great job on the relays and has scored a few World Cup points too – it’s a great start for his World Cup career,” added Cobb.

– A complete World Championship schedule is available HERE.
– Watch live video of the World Championships, and follow all the competition results HERE.