Joanne Reid takes off from the shooting range during the mixed relay biathlon race at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. (AP file photo — Gregorio Borgia)

NEW GLOUSESTER, Maine — Following the completion of the U.S. Biathlon Fall Festival and IBU Cup Trials held at the end of October in Soldier Hollow, Utah, 15 athletes have been nominated to the U.S. Biathlon teams competing at the opening events of the 2019-20 season.

“We had an impressively competitive trials this season, with several lead changes throughout the competitions,” said U.S. Biathlon Director of High Performance Lowell Bailey, a Lake Placid resident. “I feel really good about the teams we are sending and their ability to compete with the world’s best on the international stage.”

Six members of the 2018 U.S. Olympic Team have been selected to compete at the first three International Biathlon Union World Cup events on this year’s calendar, including women’s Olympic Team members Clare Egan (Cape Elizabeth, Maine), Susan Dunklee (Barton, Vermont), Joanne Reid (Grand Junction, Colorado) and Emily Dreissigacker (Morrisville, Vermont).

Named to the men’s World Cup team are 2018 Olympians Sean Doherty (Center Conway, New Hampshire) and Leif Nordgren (Hinesburg, Vermont), along with Travis Cooper (Kenai, Alaska) and Alex Howe (Gilford, New Hampshire).

The IBU kicks off its 2019-20 World Cup season in Oestersund, Sweden, Nov. 30 to Dec. 8. That will be followed by World Cups in Hochfilzen, Austria, Dec. 13-15, and Le Grand Bornand, France, Dec. 19-22.

Named to the U.S. squads competing at the IBU Cup competitions in Ridnaun-Val Ridanna, Italy, Dec. 12-15, and in Obertilliach, Austria, Dec. 18-21, are Kelsey Dickinson (Winthrop, Washington), Hallie Grossman (South Burlington, Vermont) and Maddie Phaneuf (Old Forge) on the women’s side, and Lars Hammernes Leopold (Truckee, California), Max Durtschi (Ketchum, Idaho), Paul Schommer (Appleton, Wisconsin) and Jake Brown (St. Paul, Minnesota) on the men’s side.

“It’s an exciting time for U.S. Biathlon, with several new names in the mix on our international teams,” Bailey said. “It will be fun to watch.”