There was a flurry of activity at the Biathlon Range as biathletes strapped on their skis and loaded their rifles for Biathlon Yukon’s fourth time trial on Sunday.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Biathlon Yukon has scheduled five time trials since the athletes’ usual travel itinerary has been put on hold.

On Sunday, it was a pursuit race – which Sophia Marnik, with Biathlon Yukon, said is a race that isn’t usually practiced but is one the athletes compete when they go to Outside competitions.

The action was fast and furious. Beginning at 1 p.m., the junior athletes left in five-second waves – the senior athletes did the same.

Athletes were then required to give chase to those in front of them. The winner was the first biathlete to cross the line, there was no adjustment made for time.

This format put extra emphasis on the range. Instead of a time penalty, for every missed shot the athletes had to complete a 100-metre penalty loop.

Results:

The 2.4-kilometre pursuit was taken by Alexander Labarge, whose final time was 14:42.6. Labarge finished 3:04.3 ahead of second-place finisher Colin Diamond. Third place belonged to Taiga Buurman.

Matthew London took the Junior four-kilometre race in 18:47.1. London outpaced Cheyenne Tirschmann by 1:08.5. Keelan Robins placed third.

The senior athletes, who left in the second wave, shot at the range four times, twice in prone, then twice standing.

Spencer Littlefair was the lone Junior Men athlete. He finished his 10-kilometre race in 4:46.0.

The rest of the athletes below competed in a 7.5-kilometre distance.

It was close atop the Senior Boys class. Noah Marnik secured first place finishing in 29:28.0. Only 48 seconds behind Marnik was Bruce Porter. Alex Brown rounded out the top three.

Veronica Porter flew solo in the Youth Women division and finished in 33:53.0.

Isla Hupé took the Senior Girls class in 35:58.6. Ava Irving-Staley earned the second-place position. The third athlete in the category registered a did not start (DNS).

Brian Healy reigned supreme in the Masters division, posting a time of 32:03.2. Berne Johnson and Manon Desforges placed second and third respectively.

During the five time trials, biathletes are gaining points for the Grey Mountain Cup. Winners will be awarded after the fifth trial is held on Valentines Day.

First place in a race earns 60 points, second 54 and third 48. Up to tenth place can earn points toward the Grey Mountain Cup.

The Grey Mountain Cup does not include the Yukon Championships, which will be hosted from March 5-6.