2023-24 Season Opens in Östersund, Sweden
by Joseph Bonacci
New Gloucester, ME - The first BMW IBU World Cup Event of the year is here, and is sure to be an exciting week of racing. The extended race schedule, from November 25 to December 3, promises a busy week of biathlon individual, sprint, pursuit and relay races, kicking off with the single mixed relay and mixed relay on Saturday, November 25.
The U.S. women’s team will include 2022 Olympian Deedra Irwin (Pulaski, WI / Army World Class Athlete Program), Kelsey Dickinson (Winthrop, WA / Craftsbury Green Racing Project), Jackie Garso (Lake Clear, NY / Craftsbury Green Racing Project) and Margie Freed (Apple Valley, MN / Craftsbury Green Racing Project) for the first World Cup of the season.
For Freed, Östersund will mark the first biathlon World Cup start of her career.
“I am grateful to be joining so many of my Green Racing Project teammates in Sweden,” said Freed, “and getting to experience the amazing atmosphere of a biathlon World Cup up close and personal.”
Sean Doherty (Center Conway, NH / National Guard Biathlon), Jake Brown (Saint Paul, MN / Craftsbury Green Racing Project), Campbell Wright (Wanaka, NZL / U.S. Biathlon) and Maxime Germain (Chamonix-Mont Blanc, FRA/National Guard Biathlon) make up the men’s team. Wright will get his long-anticipated first taste of relay action and Doherty looks to top his 14th place in the individual start last year.
“The individual in Östersund is one of the hardest races of the season,” said Doherty, “I have had some strong performances there as well as some incredibly low moments, so we will see where I am and what I can do.”
The races are sure to be hard and fast, as the courses are all rolling, characterized by big climbs and quick descents, with the only flat being the stadium itself. Athletes will need to focus on conserving energy, especially over the longer races, and utilize the downhills as their crucial recovery zones. Live streams can be found at eurovisionsports.tv/ibu/. Spectator resources for the upcoming season can be found at usbiathlon.org/spectator-resources.
World Cup 1 - Östersund, Sweden
November 25
Single Mixed Relay 6:30 ET/ 12:30 CET
Mixed Relay 8:50 ET/ 2:50 CET
November 26
Women’s 15km Individual 5:20 ET/ 11:20 CET
Men’s 20km Individual 8:30 ET/ 2:30 CET
November 29
Women’s 4x6km Relay 9:20 ET/ 3:20 CET
November 30
Men’s 4x7.5km Relay 9:20 ET/ 3:20 CET
December 1
Women’s 7.5km Sprint 8:45 ET/ 2:45 CET
December 2
Men’s 10km Sprint 8:45 ET/ 2:45 CET
December 3
Women’s 10km Pursuit 8:00 ET/ 2:00 CET
Men’s 12.5km Pursuit 10:00 ET/ 4:00 CET
