Ukraine will be represented in the women’s mass start at the Biathlon World Cup for the first time this season. Khristina Dmytrenko qualified for the elite race thanks to her 21st place in the short individual event in Nové Město. Just one mistake at four shooting ranges allowed Khristina to achieve her best result of the season and win a ticket to the mass start, where the best biathletes will compete, according to Sport Bet.
In total, 13 biathletes were able to qualify for the mass start thanks to ‘windows’ in the list of top participants. The composition of the women’s mass start in Nové Město has been significantly updated: due to the fact that eight representatives of the top quarter of the overall standings are missing the stage in the Czech Republic, the quota for selection has been expanded to 13 places. Dmytrenko took advantage of this opportunity, demonstrating high skill in the short individual race.
This is Khristina’s first mass start appearance this season. Previously, our athlete took part in last year’s race in Pokljuka, finishing last in the top 20. The last time Ukrainian biathletes competed in a mass start race was in Holmenkollen. At that time, Yulia Dzhima and Olena Horodna took part in the mass start.
It should be noted that Dmytrenko will not be the only Ukrainian biathlete to compete in the mass start race in Nové Město — Vitaliy Mandzyn, who finished 15th in the men’s individual race, also qualified for the race.
Krystyna Dmytrenko among the elite: full list of participants in the mass start in Nové Město
According to the World Cup rankings: Lou Jeanmonnot, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet, Camille Benet, Oceane Michlon, Julia Simon, Jeanne Richard (all — France), Suvi Mikkinen (Finland), Anna Magnusson (Sweden), Lisa Vittozzi, Dorothea Wierer (both Italy), Franziska Preuss (Germany), Amy Baserga (Switzerland), Lisa Theresa Hauser (Austria), Regina Hermits (Estonia), Paulina Batovska-Fialkova (Slovakia), Polona Klemencic (Slovenia), Tereza Voborníková (Czech Republic)
Selected by: Lena Geki-Gross, Leya Meyer, Aita Gasparin, Lydia Mattler (all Switzerland), Tamara Steiner (Austria), Siri Skar (Norway), Natalia Sidorovich (Poland), Didra Irwin (USA), Marlene Fichtner (Germany), Ilona Plekhatsova (Czech Republic), Maria Renomova (Slovakia), Khristina Dmitrenko (Ukraine), Venla Lehtonen (Finland)
As previously reported, the results of the Biathlon World Cup stage in Ruhpolding have been announced.
