Crawford wins first World Cup medal

RUHPOLDING, Germany (CP/Citizen staff ) — Canadian biathlete Rosanna Crawford claimed her first ever World Cup podium place after finishing third in a women’s 15-kilometre individual race on Thursday.

“Not something I was really expecting this season,” said 29-yearold Crawford, who shot cleanly in the race.

Italy’s Dorothea Wierer also shot cleanly to win in 41 minutes, 29.0 seconds, ahead of Kaisa Makarainen of Finland - who missed one target - by 12.7 seconds and Crawford by 21.2.

“I felt really confident about my shooting in the last weeks,” said Wierer, whose last win was at Canmore, Alta., in February 2016. Julia Ransom of Kelowna was 34th, 3:35 behind Wierer; Sarah Beaudry of Prince George was 53rd, 4:18.6 off the winning pace; and Emma Lunder of Vernon placed 67th out of 102 starters, 5:21.7 behind.

Canada was limited to four spots and Megan Tandy of Prince George, who placed 43rd in a World Cup pursuit race last week in Oberhof, Germany, did not race. Overall World Cup leader Anastasiya Kuzmina finished ninth, 1:32.3 behind with three missed targets. After 11 races, Makarainen cut the Slovakian biathlete’s lead to 25 points with 11 events to go. Makarainen was presented with a small cake and urged to make a wish for her birthday as she blew out the candle. “Can anybody guess what it might be?” the Finn joked.

Kuzmina leads with 454 points, ahead of Makarainen (429) and Wierer (378).