Irwin and Wright Speed to Ninth Place in Single Mixed Relay
by Sara Donatello
Deedra Irwin (Pulaski, WI/Army World Class Athlete Program) and Campbell Wright (Wanaka, NZL/U.S. Biathlon) skied to ninth place in the single mixed relay in Antholz, Italy. Between the pair, both Irwin and Wright held top-10 ski times throughout the entire race, only four seconds back from the eighth place Estonia and 30 seconds back from a top-five finish.
“It felt good to ski with everyone today and be in the mix,” said Irwin. “I think we pulled together a great race. The wax techs did an amazing job with the skis. Antholz really showed off her beauty today!”
Despite having to ski a penalty loop each, Irwin and Wright finished just +1.09.5 behind Germany’s leading pair of Vanessa Voigt and Justus Strelow, who only used one spare round. Germany was joined on the podium by Ingrid Landmark Tandrevold and Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen of Norway and Austria’s Lisa Theresa Hauser and Simon Eder.
In just the second single mixed relay race of the season, Team USA has placed in the top 10 each time. Back in November in Oestersund, Sweden, the pair of Irwin and Sean Doherty (Center Conway, NH/National Guard Biathlon) skied to an eighth place finish, cleaning their prone shoots and only using three spare rounds in standing. Just two months later, Irwin and Wright placed ninth with two added penalty loops, further proving the two to be dangerous competition.
The third and final single mixed relay of the season will take place on January 15 at the 2024 World Championships in Nove Mesto na Morave, Czech Republic. Team USA will be looking to top their best finish and continue delivering top ski times. For information on how to watch, visit usbiathlon.org/how-to-watch. For spectator resources, visit usbiathlon.org/spectator-resources.