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Dunklee, Bailey return home with strong showings

JERICHO, Vermont — Susan Dunklee put a cap on the 2016-17 biathlon season with dominating performances on her home turf. The Barton, Vermont native swept all three women’s events at the U.S. National Championships held over the weekend at the Ethan Allen Biathlon Club in Jericho.

Lowell Bailey, of Lake Placid, also enjoyed a fine weekend with two victories in the three men’s races. The world champion in the 20-kilometer individual event shot clean in winning the men’s 12.5K pursuit on Saturday. World Cup teammate Leif Nordgren, of Marine, Minnesota, was second, 2:22.5 back with three penalties, while Russell Currier, of Stockholm, Maine, took third with six penalties, 2:37.7 behind Bailey.

Bailey continued his fine shooting in Sunday’s 15K mass start, hitting 19 of 20 targets to win by a 1:35 margin over Nordgren, who had four penalties. Paul Schommer, of Appleton, Wisconsin, placed third with three penalties, 1:49.1 back.

Currier started the weekend with an impressive victory over Bailey in Friday’s 10K sprint. Despite having one more penalty than Bailey, Currier pulled out the win by 10.8 seconds. Currier hit eight of 10 targets, while Bailey knocked down nine of 10. Nordgren placed third, 39 seconds back with three penalties, to reach the podium in all three races.

In Friday’s 7.5K women’s sprint, Dunklee had three penalties but still won by a 1 minute, 54.5-second margin over Joanne Reid (Boulder, Colorado), who had four penalties. Clare Egan (Cape Elizabeth, Maine), also with four penalties, placed third, 2:17.5 back of Dunklee.

Dunklee continued her dominance in Saturday’s 10K pursuit as she hit 18 of 20 targets and bested Reid, who had five penalties, by 5:18.5. Maddie Phaneuf, of Old Forge, was third, 5:39 behind Dunklee with two penalties.

Despite six penalties in Sunday’s 12.5km mass start, Dunklee was able to edge out Egan, who had four penalties, by 7.7 seconds to complete the weekend sweep. Third place went to another Vermont native, Emily Dreissigacker, who was 1:20.6 back with just two missed targets.

 

 

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