Neuner and Bogaliy-Titovets Change Positions

The three women on the podium did not change from yesterday, although Neuner slipped ahead of Bogaliy-Titovets for the second spot. However, today’ conditions were totally opposite from yesterday. In the Sprint, every athlete struggled with heavy new snow, swirling winds and bone-chilling temperatures. Overnight, the sky cleared bringing cold nighttime temperatures near minus 20, which warmed with the bright sun to minus eight by the 12 noon start. The wind went away as the skies cleared, making today a spectacular day for the competitions; no wind and glistening, fast snow for everyone.

Good Shooting

From the outset, the only question was how much Sleptsova would win by. Every time she came to the shooting range, she shot alone and was never challenged, even when she missed one prone shot and later a standing shot. Despite the much nicer weather today, Sleptsova commented, “It was more difficult for me today because of the cold temperatures. I am glad that I won today. My shooting was good.”

Yet she is focused on the Olympic winter Games, adding, “This result does not mean anything for the rest of the season, especially the Olympics. However, it is good to go to the holidays with these wins.”

Neuner Moves Up

Anna Bogaliy-Titovets, with two penalties stayed ahead of Neuner, with three penalties until after the final shooting stage. In that stage, Neuner shot clean setting up the final loop. In that final 2K, Neuner turned on her ski speed and pulled away from the Russian woman.

I Am Back

Neuner was visibly happy with everything today, and actually both today and yesterday. Regarding her shooting, she said, “It was a very good race for me. Some people say I cannot shot well standing and I showed that I can. The prone shooting was not as good as it could have been. But on the track, I am back.”

She feels this sets her up well for the upcoming World Cups and Olympic Winter Games. “It is a very good feeling (to do well here). I was sick before and the training was not so good, but now I can train and get ready for Oberhof, Ruhpolding and Antholz and the rest of the season.”

Big Day for Kocher

While Bogaliy-Titovets and Neuner battled, Zina Kocher of Canada was quietly having her best competition of the year and one of the best of her career. After finishing 10^th in yesterday’s Sprint, with three penalties, the top Canadian woman started 1:43 behind Sleptsova today. Kocher moved up in every stage today with clean shooting, the only woman in the field of sixty women. By the finish, she had moved up to fourth place, just 1:06.5 behind Sleptsova.

Gregorin Fifth

Behind Kocher was the local favorite, Teja Gregorin of Slovenia who started 13^th, but missed only one target, ending up 1:28.5 back. Following her was Darya Domracheva of Belarus, with two penalties, Helena Jonsson of Sweden with two penalties and Anna Carin Olofsson-Zidek, with three penalties. These three finished 1:47.7, 2:02.3, and 2:16.9 back.

Despite finishing seventh today, Helena Jonsson retains the yellow bib going into the New Year, with Olofsson-Zidek in second place and Sleptsova now third.