Canadians Gow, Crawford, crack top 30 at biathlon worlds

HOCHFILZEN, Austria — Calgary’s Scott Gow and Rosanna Crawford of Canmore, Alta., were the only two Canadians to ski into the top-30 in sprint racing on Saturday at the biathlon world championships in Hochfilzen, Austria.

Gow, who has consistently found himself in the elite group of 30 throughout the year, posted a time of 24:49.8 in the men’s 10-kilometre sprint competition.

“My skiing was very strong, probably the best of the season and despite my shooting was able to get into the top 30 today which is the minimum I was hoping for,” said Gow, who finished 82 seconds behind the leaders after failing to drop one target in each of his two rounds of shooting.

The top-two athletes on the men’s sprint podium both shot clean. Germany’s Benedikt Doll captured the world title with a time of 23:27.4. Norway’s Johannes Thingnes Boe was second at 23:28.1. Martin Fourcade, of France, rounded out the podium with a time of 23:50.5 (1+1).

Calgary’s Christian Gow finished just outside the top-30 after shooting clean. The younger Gow brother clocked a 32nd place time of 24:58.0. Brendan Green of Hay River, N.W.T., was 38th at 25:03.8 (1+0). Macx Davies of Canmore, Alta., skied to 79th in the 102-man field, finishing with a time of 26:20.8 (2+1).

On Friday, Rosanna Crawford was the only Canadian to finish in the top-30 of the women’s 7.5-kilometre sprint race. The two-time Olympian placed 26th with a time of 20:35.8 (0+1).

The top six women in the standings all shot clean. Gabriela Koukalova, of Czech Republic, set the time to beat at 19:12.6. Germany’s Laura Dahlmeier skied to the silver step of the podium at 19:16.6, while Anais Chevalier, of France, placed third at 19:37.7.

Other Canadian finishers included: Megan Tandy, of Prince George, in 64th at 21:33.5 (1+0); Julia Ransom, of Kelowna, in 65th with a time of 21:33.5 (0+2); and Emma Lunder of Canmore, Alta., finishing 84th at 22:22.7 (3+0).