Nordic Athletes Finish World Cup Finals in Oberried

A total of 150 athletes from 18 different countries gave their best performances this past weekend as the 2010 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Biathlon and Cross-Country Skiing World Cup Finals finished in Oberried, Germany.

Taking place from 4-7 February, the final day saw the short distance (7.5km) competition in Biathlon. In the Men’s Visually Impaired (B1-3) category, Belarus’ Vasili Shaptsiaboi (B2) took first with his guide Mikalai Shablovski at a 20:29.9 result. Coming in second and third were Russia’s Irek Mannanov with guide Salavat Gumerov and Nikolay Polukhin with guide Andrey Tokarev.

In the Women’s competition, Paralympian Ambassador Verena Bentele (GER, B1) took top position with guide Thomas Friedrich at a result of 23:56.6. Following Bentele were Russia’s Liubov Vasilieva (B2) with guide Natalia Yakimova and Mikhalina Lysova (B3) with guide Alexey Ivanov.

For the Men’s Biathlon Standing (LW2-9) category (7.5km), Norway’s Nils-Erik Ulset (LW3) took first, followed by Ukraine’s Grygorii Vovchynskyi (LW8) and Russia’s Kirill Mikhaylov (LW4). In the Sitting (LW10-12) category (6.6km), Russia’s Irek Zaripov (LW12) took first with his result of 18:26.5. Zaripov was followed by Norway’s Trygve S. Larsen and compatriot Vladimir Kiselev.

In the Women’s Biathlon LW2-9 category (7.5km), Russia’s Anna Burmistrova (LW8) took first, followed by Ukraine’s Oleksandra Kononova and Poland’s Katarzyna (LW5/7). In the LW10-12 category (6.6km), Ukrainian athletes held the top three spots. Olena Iurkovska (LW12) came in first, followed by Lyudmyla Pavlenko (LW11.5) and Svitlana Tryfonova (LW10.5).

On 6 February, the Cross-Country long distance competition took place, with Russia’s Nikolay Polukhin (B2) and guide Andrey Tokarev taking first in the Men’s 20km Free Technique event. Tokarev was followed by Germany’s Frank Hoefle with guide Johannes Wachling and Belarus’ Vasili Shaptsiaboi with guide Mikalai Shablovski.

For the Women’s Cross-Country 15km Free Technique event, Germany’s Verena Bentele once again took first with her guide Thomas Friedrich. Bentele was followed by Russia’s Liubov Vasilieva (B2) with guide Natalia Yakimova and Tatiana Ilyuchenko (B3) with guide Valery Koshkin.

In the Men’s 20km LW2-9 category, Russia’s Kirill Mikhaylov (LW4) took first with his result of 54:53.5. Mikhaylov was followed by Belarus’ Siarhei Silchanka (LW8) and Austria’s Michael Kurz (LW9). In the LW10-12 category (14km), Russia’s Irek Zaripov (LW12) and Roman Petushkov took first and second respectively, followed by Italy’s Enzo Masiello (LW11).

For the Women’s 15km LW2-9 category, Russia’s Anna Burmistrova (LW8) took first with her time of 46:19.8. Coming in second and third were Ukraine’s Iuliia Batenkova (LW6) and Oleksandra Kononova (LW8). Belarus’ Liudmila Vauchok (LW11) took first in the 10km, LW10-12 category, followed by Ukraine’s Lyudmyla Pavlenko (LW11.5) and Ukraine’s Olena Iurkovska (LW12).