The cold temperatures and howling winds did not deter a group of biathletes from taking to the range on Sunday afternoon at the biathlon range on Grey Mountain Road.

The day marked the first of five time trials Biathlon Yukon will be hosting throughout the year. Because of COVID-19, there lingers an uncertainty about Outside competitions. The time trials were a way to allow the biathletes the opportunity to compete against each other.

With all the snow the city received over the weekend, not including Monday, the trails glistened with fresh powder. However, the biathletes did not compete on skis on Sunday.

This was in one part because the time trial was planned before the snow's arrival, and also because not all the athletes had skis yet.

Instead of skiing, the biathletes ran, a handful walked, a much harder task, considering all the snow accumulated on the ground. As the athletes crossed the finish line, many collapsed onto the snow to catch their breath.

Sophia Marnik, with Biathlon Yukon, said "it was challenging conditions today for sure for all athletes, but they all started and finished their races, which is a big thing."

The youth men category, had one athlete competing, Spencer Littlefair. He is an athlete from the Northwest Territories who is attending Yukon University and training with Biathlon Yukon for the season.

Littlefair ran a 4.5-kilometre sprint, finishing in a time of 35:09.3.

The youth women division also ran 4.5 kilometres. Veronica Porter, the lone athlete ran it in 38:25.8.

Seven athletes vied in the senior boys 3.75-kilometre sprint. It was a competitive class, all biathletes finished the distance sub-26 minutes and only one minute 36 seconds separated first from last.

Cole Germain set the winning pace, completing the sprint in 24:09.8. Only 35.7 seconds behind Germain came Isidore Champagne in second and Alex Brown, 25:15.3 rounded out the top three.

The senior girls 3.75-kilometre sprint was won by Ava Irving-Staley in 31:26.4. Placing second was Claire MacMillan in 40:38.3.

The juniors competed in a 2.4-kilometre sprint. Matthew London set the winning time of 16:11.7. Cheyenne Tirschmann was only 17.1 seconds behind to get the runner-up spot and Keelan Robins, 17:49, nabbed the last podium position.

The day's largest division was the pursuit two-kilometre sprint featuring eight athletes. Taiga Buurman had the top result, finishing in 12:58.4. Just shy of a minute behind was Johna Irving-Staley, 13:51.2 in second place. Logan Tirschmann was only five seconds behind Johna to finish in third.

For injured athletes who still wanted the race experience, the mixed junior one-kilometre sprint was introduced. Lydia Brown walked the course the fastest, finishing in 14:10.6. Isla Hupé, 15:44, was the "walker-up".

Biathlon Yukon plans on hosting four more time trials throughout the season. According to the calendar on the club's website, the next time trial is slated for Nov. 29.