March 22, 2017 (Oslo, Norway) – Following a superb season the USA’s Susan Dunklee finished a career-best 10th overall as the IBU World Cup wrapped up this past weekend at the Holmenkollen in Oslo, Norway. Dunklee, from Barton, Vermont won historic silver in the Mass Start women’s race at the 2017 Biathlon World Championships in Hochfilzen, Austria, becoming the first American woman to win an individual medal at an Olympics or World Championships in biathlon.

The final women’s race of the season, the 12.5km Mass Start, was won by Norway’s Tiril Eckhoff with one penalty for her second victory of the season. Gabriela Koukalova (Czech Republic) finished second at 22.6 seconds back also with one penalty, followed by Finland’s Kaisa Makarainen in third with two penalties. Dunklee finished 20th with five missed targets as the lone North American on the start line.

“It’s been an incredible honor to be part of this team during this special year,” said Dunklee, also the first woman, and second athlete after Lowell Bailey, to qualify for the next US Olympic team in 2018. In addition she won silver with Bailey in the single mixed relay at Kontiolahti, Finland – the USA’s first team medal in 23 years.

“We have staff who have worked hard for decades believing that our athletes could one day reach this level. Now we have new training ideas for how to improve over the summer and plenty of motivation to keep the momentum rolling,” added Dunklee who also races for the Craftsbury Green Racing Project.

After 26 events, Germany’s Laura Dahlmeier took the overall World Cup title with 1,211 points also claiming the Pursuit title. Koukalova was second in the overall with 1,089 points, also taking home the Sprint and Mass Start globes. Makarainen rounded out the overall World Cup final podium with 971 points.

Dunklee finished with 596 points improving on her 14th place finish from last season for a career best 10th. Rosanna Crawford was the top Canadian in 50th with 112 points, while other North Americans included Clare Egan (USA) in 56th with 86 points, Julia Ranson (Canada) in 59th with 77 points, Joanne Reid (USA) in 84th with 21 points and Megan Tandy and Emma Lunder (both Canada) in 85th and 86th,and with 21 and 20 points, respectively.

Dahlmeier was second in the overall Sprint standings behind Koukalovawith Makarainen third while Dunklee was the top North American in 10th. Koukalova and Makarainenn were second and third respectively behind Dahlmeier in the Pursuit series with Dunklee 11th. The Mass Start final overall saw the same protagonists with Dahlmeier second behind Koukalova and Makarainen third with Dunklee 11th again.

Full results here.
Overall World Cup standings here.