FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Gary Colliander
Minnesota Biathlon
Community Olympic Development Program
[email protected]
January 2, 2002
U.S. Biathlon Olympic Trials - Day 3
Pursuit Format Competition: Salmela and Hakkinen battle to finish
Kara Salmela of Duluth, Minnesota was the 14th starter in today's Pursuit Format Competition.
This would prove vital as Salmela made her way around the final loop; Rachael Steer of Anchorage,AK
left the starting gate wearing bib #1 and took the overall lead with clean shooting. Salmela's
later start allowed her to receive splits around the course letting her know where she was
in comparison to Steer. In the end Salmela would gain her first win at these Olympic Trials,
just 12.9 seconds ahead of Steer, Salmela hit 19 out of 20 targets. Finishing in 3rd was
Wayzata native Andrea Nahrgang; Nahrgang was clean through her first two stages and was included
in the close battle for 1st place, but two missed shots in each of her last two stages would
leave the battle to Salmela and Steer. Finishing 6th was St. Cloud native Jill Krause, who
again turned in one of the days best ski times.
In the Men's race it looked as if Dan Campbell of Hastings was going to walk away with a victory
with his great skiing and spectacular shooting, 14 for 15 through his first three stages. In
the final shooting Campbell failed to capitalize leaving 4 shots, which opened the door for
eventual winner Jay Hakkinen of Kasilof, AK. Campbell slowly ate away at some of his lost
time in the final loop to gain slightly closer to the other top competitors, but would end
up finishing in 8th place. Ryan Cameron of Minneapolis showed off some of his top ski form
finishing in 12th place with 6 penalties. Teammate Andy Erickson of Minnetonka turned in
a solid performance finishing 15th with 5 penalties, Erickson struggled his first standing
position stage missing 3 targets, but came back and hit 4 of 5 targets in his final shooting.
The Biathlon Olympic Trials will conclude tomorrow with the final Sprint Competition. Four
men and four women will be chosen to represent the U.S. Team in the Salt Lake Olympics this
February.
Women's Pursuit Format 10k - 4 Shootings (prone, prone, standing, standing)
1 Kara Salmela Duluth, MN Nat'l Guard 0 0 1 0 32:34
2 Rachael Steer Anchorage, AK U.S. Nat'l Team 0 0 0 0 32:47
3 Andrea Nahrgang Wayzata, MN U.S. Nat'l Team 0 0 2 2 34:14
4 Tracy Barnes Durango, CO Jr. Nat'l Team 0 0 1 0 34:36
4 Kristina Sabastianski Midway, UT U.S. Nat'l Team 1 2 0 1 34:36
6 Jill Kruase St. Cloud, MN U.S. Nat'l Team 2 1 3 1 34:57
7 Carolyn Treacy Duluth, MN Jr. Nat'l Team 2 1 0 1 35:08
11 Jaime Mueller Brainerd, MN MN Biathlon 2 0 1 0 36:33
12 Jill Troutner Maple Grove, MN MN Biathlon 1 3 1 3 37:56
14 BethAnn Ellingson Grand Rapids, MN Jr. Nat'l Team 3 0 2 2 38:55
16 Sarah Riley Proctor, MN USOEC 2 4 2 2 39:17
Men's Pursuit Format 12.5k - 4 Shootings (prone, prone, standing, standing)
1 Jay Hakkinen Kasilof, AK U.S. Nat'l Team 2 1 1 1 34:30
2 Dan Westover Jericho, VT WCAP 0 1 1 1 34:35
3 Curtis Schreiner Day, NY WCAP 0 1 0 0 34:43
4 Dave Gieck Midway, UT U.S. Nat'l Team 3 0 2 1 34:45
5 Jeremy Teela Anchorage, UT U.S. Nat'l Team 1 2 2 1 34:49
8 Dan Campbell Hastings, MN MN Biathlon 0 0 1 4 35:41
12 Ryan Cameron Minneapolis, MN MN Biathlon 2 2 1 1 36:47
15 Andy Erickson Minnetonka, MN MN Biathlon 0 1 3 1 37:29
19 Jacob Beste Minneapolis, MN Nat'l Guard 2 3 1 1 37:52
20 Ben Kremer Minneapolis, MN MN Biathlon 1 2 1 2 37:56
21 John Kurtz St Louis Park,MN Nat'l Guard 1 1 0 1 37:59
22 Anders Osthus Duluth, MN Jr. Nat'l Team 2 1 3 2 38:45
26 Brian Olsen Bloomington, MN Jr. Nat'l Team 1 1 2 2 39:38
31 Brett Piper Lakeville, MN USOEC 2 3 2 1 40:03
35 Andy Fisher St Louis Park,MN Nat'l Guard 1 2 2 2 40:47
36 Steve Scott St. Paul, MN MN Biathlon 3 2 1 1 41:35
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