December 23, 2018 (Nove Mesto, Czech Republic) – American Clare Egan delivered another career-best performance finishing 14th in the women’s 12.5km Mass Start with two penalties at 1:22.3 seconds behind winner Anastasiya Kuzmina of Slovakia also with two missed targets for her first victory of the season.

Second place went to Kuzmina’s teammate Paulina Fialkova with two penalties as well at 12.1 seconds back. Anais Chevalier of France made a late charge to claim third place at 13.3 seconds behind the winner. No Canadian women competed.

“It feels great to end 2018 on such a high,” said Egan who’s previous best mass start finish was 23rd set last year.. “Today’s race was tough but I’m satisfied with my performance, especially my clean last stage.”

“Racing in the mass start is a privilege and I’m grateful to my U.S. Biathlon teammates, staff, ski service team, sponsors and especially my coach for helping me get here. I’m ready for a break but already motivated for racing in 2019.”

Canadian Christian Gow was 23rd in the men’s 15km Mass Start with three penalties, won by Johannes Thingnes Boe of Norway who shot clean to give him a hat-trick sweep of the competitions in Nove Mesto.

Quentin Fillon Maillet of France missed only his final standing shot for second at 46.5 seconds back while Evgeniy Garanichev of Russia shot clean but finished third for his first podium appearance of the new season.