Biathlon: Season-best World Cup finish for Poland's Hojnisz

Poland’s top biathlete Monika Hojnisz-Staręga has come in fourth in the women’s 12.5 km mass start race in Pokljuka, Slovenia, notching up her best World Cup finish this season.

Poland's Monika Hojnisz-Staręga in action during the women's 12.5 km mass start race at the Biathlon World Cup in Pokljuka, Slovenia, on Sunday.

Photo: EPA/ANTONIO BAT

The 28-year-old Pole finished 9.9 seconds behind third-placed Anais Bescond of France, and 37.5 seconds behind the winner, Hanna Oeberg of Sweden.

Italy’s Lisa Vittozzi took second place in Pokljuka on Sunday.

Poland’s Kamila Żuk, a 22-year-old Biathlon World Cup rookie, finished 17^th.

Hojnisz-Staręga is a leading light of Polish biathlon after several teammates retired from competitive sports in recent years.

In December 2018, she came in runner-up in the women’s 15 km individual race in Pokljuka, earning her best-ever World Cup finish.

German Michael Greis last year took over as head coach of Poland’s women’s biathlon team to replace Ukrainian Nadiya Bilova.

Biathlon is an Olympic winter sport that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting.

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Source: Polsat Sport, PAP