Nordic World Cup Underway in Oberried

The 2010 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Biathlon and Cross-Country Skiing World Cup has seen impressive performances after its first day of Cross-Country Sprint competition in Oberried, Germany.

In the Men’s Cross-Country Sprint competition (B1-3), Russia’s Nikolay Polukhin (B2) took first with his guide Andrey Tokarev at 2:34.91. Polukhin was followed by Finland’s Jarmo Ollanketo with guide Marko Toermaenen and Ukraine’s Dmytro Shulga with guide Sergiy Kucheryaviy respectively.

Russia dominated the Women’s Cross-Country Sprint competition (B1-3) with Mikhalina Lysova (B3) coming in first with her guide Alexey Ivanov. Coming in second and third were Liubov Vasilieva (B2) with guide Natalia Yakimova and Tatiana Ilyuchenko (B3) with guide Valery Koshkin.

In the Men’s Cross-Country Sprint (LW2-9), Japan’s Yoshihiro Nitta (LW8) took first followed by Russia’s Kirill Mikhaylov (LW4) and Finland’s Ilkka Tuomisto (LW8). For the LW10-12 category, Norway’s Trygve S. Larsen (LW12) took first with his time of 1:49.29. Larsen was followed by Belarus’ Aliaksandr Davidovich and Ukraine’s Iurii Kostiuk (LW10.5).

For the Women’s Standing category, Russia’s Anna Burmistrova (LW8) took first with her finish at 3:11.18. Burmistrova was followed by Ukraine’s Oleksandra Kononova and Iuliia Batenkova (LW6). In the Sitting category, Norway’s Marianne V. Marthinsen (LW12) took first with her time of 2:08.66. Marthinsen was followed by Canada’s Collettee Bourgonje (LW10) and Russia’s Maria Iovleva (LW12).

The 2010 IPC Biathlon and Cross-Country Skiing World Cup in Oberried, Germany, continues through 7 February. A total of 150 athletes from 18 different countries are competing in the World Cup.