Sharp Shooting U.S. Women’s Relay Closes Out Open European Championships

The 2026 Open European Championships came to a close today in Sjusjoen, NOR with a strong showing from the U.S. women’s relay team, highlighted by exceptional shooting on the range. Posting the third-fastest team shooting time of the day and tying for the best overall range performance, the U.S. women finished 11th in the 4x6km relay.

France claimed gold, followed by Germany in second and Norway in third.

Grace Castonguay (Jackson, NH/Team Soldier Hollow) led off for Team USA, using just one spare in prone and cleaning her standing stage to hold position and tag off in 11th. Jackie Garso (Lake Clear, NY/Craftsbury Green Racing Project) carried the momentum through leg two, shooting clean in prone and using two spares in standing to maintain 11th at the exchange.

Kelsey Dickinson (Winthrop, WA/Craftsbury Green Racing Project) delivered the team’s standout range performance, cleaning both prone and standing, with a speedy 24.4 second standing shoot. Chloe Levins (Rutland, VT/Mansfield Nordic Pro) anchored the relay with poise, cleaning prone and needing just one spare in standing before powering through the final lap to secure the 11th place finish.

Earlier in the day, the U.S. men’s relay team of Vincent Bonacci (Salt Lake City, UT/Unaffiliated), Jake Brown (St. Paul, MN/Craftsbury Green Racing Project), Vaclav Cervenka (Grand Rapids, MN/National Guard Biathlon), and Bjorn Westervelt (Stowe, VT/Craftsbury Green Racing Project) finished 13th in the 4x7.5km relay. Bonacci opened the race with a solid leg, cleaning prone and using just one spare in standing. A challenging day on the range for the remaining legs. A total of 14 spare rounds and six penalty loops between the three athletes ultimately kept the team outside the top 10.

The team will remain in Sjusjoen for IBU Cup 6, which begins Wednesday, February 4, with the mixed and single mixed relays, followed by sprints and pursuits on Friday, February 6, and Saturday, February 7. Racing can be followed live on the IBU App; more information is available HERE.