Clean Shooting Propels Cervenka to Top 15 at Home

Vaclav Cervenka (Grand Rapids, MN/National Guard Biathlon) delivered a strong performance in the men’s 10km sprint at IBU Cup 8 in Lake Placid, NY. Racing on his home course and range, Cervenka shot clean, knocking down all 10 targets to secure his third top 15 finish of the 2025-26 season. He crossed the line in 15th place, +1:45.6 behind race winner Gaetan Paturel of France. Norway’s Ole Suhrke and Sverre Dahlen Aspenes rounded out the podium in second and third.

Jake Brown (St. Paul, MN/Craftsbury Green Racing Project) followed closely behind in 21st. Despite three penalties on the range, Brown posted the 12th fastest ski time of the day to earn a top 25 finish. Vincent Bonacci (Salt Lake City, UT/Unaffiliated), also missing three targets, finished 43rd. Bjorn Westervelt (Stowe, VT/Craftsbury Green Racing Project) placed 53rd, Thor Sheppard (West Yellowstone, MT/Team Altius) was 59th, and Logan Moore (Durango, CO/Mansfield Nordic Pro) finished 73rd.

Earlier in the day, the women toed the line in the 7.5km sprint. Grace Castonguay (Jackson, NH/Soldier Hollow Elite) led the U.S. women in 34th after missing just one target in prone. Joanne Reid (Grand Junction, CO/Colorado Biathlon Club) followed in 45th with four misses. Jackie Garso (Lake Clear, NY/Craftsbury Green Racing Project) finished 48th, while Kelsey Dickinson (Winthrop, WA/Craftsbury Green Racing Project) shot clean to place 52nd. Lina Farra (Heber City, UT/Unaffiliated) crossed the line in 56th, and Zoe Noble (Anchorage, AK/National Guard Biathlon) finished 62nd in her first IBU Cup start of the season.

Racing continues Friday with the final individual competitions of the 2025-26 IBU Cup season, as 60 athletes will line up in both the men’s 15km and women’s 12.5km Mass Start 60 events.