Germain Kicks off Trimester 3 in the Top 25

Maxime Germain (Chamonix-Mont Blanc, FRA/National Guard Biathlon) led the U.S. squad in the first individual races of the final trimester, finishing 22nd in the men’s 20km individual to secure his third top-25 result of the season. With just two misses on the range and a top-30 ski time, Germain crossed the line +4:17.8 behind France’s Eric Perrot, who shot clean to take the victory. Perrot was joined on the podium by Norwegian teammates Sturla Holm Laegreid in second and Vetle Sjaastad Christiansen in third.

In the individual format, where each missed target adds a full minute to an athlete’s time, precise shooting is essential. Sean Doherty (Conway, NH/Army World Class Athlete Program) followed for the U.S. in 45th with three misses. Paul Schommer (Appleton, WI/Team Birkie/Ariens Nordic Center) also recorded three penalties to finish 57th, while Campbell Wright (Wanaka, NZL/Waiorau Nordic Skiing) posted a top-25 ski time but was set back by six misses, placing 66th.

The day prior, the women toed the line in the 15km individual. Deedra Irwin (Pulaski, WI/Army World Class Athlete Program) led the U.S. team in 38th with two misses. Margie Freed delivered one of her strongest ski performances of the season but incurred three penalties in her second shooting stage to finish 41st. Chloe Levins (Rutland, VT/Mansfield Nordic Pro) rounded out the U.S. results in 82nd.

Racing continues tomorrow with the final 4x7.5km relay of the season, where the U.S. men’s quartet of Doherty, Germain, Schommer, and Wright will take to the start line at 09:40 ET/16:40 CET.