Super season continues for Natalie Wilkie with gold at Para biathlon World Cup

(photo International Biathlon Union)

JAKUSZYCE, Poland – Two-time Paralympian Natalie Wilkie of Salmon Arm, B.C., posted her fifth victory this season on the Para biathlon World Cup circuit Thursday winning the women’s 7.5 kilometre sprint.

Wilkie, who turned 25 on Wednesday, controlled the competition from start to finish. The overall World Cup leader shot clean and never relinquished the lead.

Iryna Bui of Ukraine finished 14 seconds behind, with Sydney Peterson of the U.S., a further four seconds back – both securing their first World Cup podium finishes of the season.

‘’I was very well prepared for this race,’’ said Wilkie, a seven-time Paralympic medallist over the last two Winter Games. ‘’I was really confident on this range and on this course.

‘’I’m a very good downhiller and I was really focused on pushing hard through the transition sections.’’

With the victory, Wilkie enters the last two races of the season, on Saturday and Sunday, as the overall leader in the World Cup standings.

‘’The Crystal Globe (as overall champion) is definitely on my radar this year,’’ she said. ‘’I’ve been quite close the last couple years. I’m in a strong position right now and to win that, would be a huge step in my career.’’

Wilkie was second overall last season.

Two-time Paralympian Brittany Hudak of Prince Albert, Sask., was sixth in the same race.

Mark Arendz of Harstville, P.E.I., missed the podium for the first time this season on the circuit placing fourth in the men’s 7.5 km standing race.

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‘’ The two split misses in today’s sprint were too much for me to overcome, while others were skiing well and shooting better than I did today,’’ said Arendz, a 12-time Paralympic medallist, primed for his fifth Winter Games in March.  ‘’There are a few small points that went my way, but a few didn’t.

‘’The beauty in biathlon is not to think and did too much that today.’’

Christina Picton of Fonthill, Ont., posted her best result this season, placing fifth in the women’s sitting 7.5 km.

Derek Zaplotinsky of Smokey Lake, Alta., was seventh in the men’s sitting race.