CASPER, Wyo. — The U.S. Biathlon National Championships continued on Casper Mountain today, with some of the country’s top biathlon athletes taking part.
Competition kicked off Friday under a clear sky, but today athletes had to battle some contentious weather.
“Yesterday we were blessed with blue-bird sunny skies and today was the total opposite,” Casper Mountain Biathlon Club President Robert Rosser said. “It was really windy and tricky, but the athletes are pros and took it all in stride.”
Rosser said the event has had more than 50 volunteers per day helping to make sure things run smoothly.
“Our goal was 50 and we’re exceeding that, which has been great to see,” he said.
On Friday, athletes took part in the sprint race, the shortest of the biathlon disciplines, with athletes reaching great speeds over the tight course. Today, athletes took part in the pursuit race, which features four shooting sessions — two prone and two standing — with five shots each. For every miss in the pursuit, the biathlete must complete a 150-meter penalty lap.
Full results and standings from the first two days of action can be viewed here.
Tomorrow, competition wraps up with the relay race, which will begin at 10 a.m.
“This has been an amazing experience so far, and it’s been an honor for Casper Mountain Biathlon Club to be able to host this,” Rosser said. “It’s the highlight of my athletic career as a coach and venue operator, and we couldn’t be more happy with how it’s been going.”
