Olofsson powers to first biathlon season win


dpa German Press Agency
Published: Friday December 15, 2006

Hochfilzen, Austria- Olympic champion Anna Carin Olofsson
of Sweden got her first season victory in the biathlon World Cup by
fully dominating a sprint race.
Olofsson hit all 10 targets on the shooting range and skied to
victory over the 7.5-kilometres in 22 minutes 6.9 seconds.

It was the first win of the season and seventh overall for
Olofsson, who won Olympic gold last February in Turin in the mass
start race.

Olofsson could have even afforded one penalty loop as she led by
32.0 seconds over second-placed French Sandrine Bailly. Three-time
season winner Andrea Henkel was third, 41.6 seconds off the pace.

Henkel leads the World Cup with 297 points from seven races, with
Olofsson on 234 and World Cup champion kati Wilhelm of Germany third
on 230 points.

The biathlon World Cup continues with a men's sprint on Saturday.

© 2006 - dpa German Press Agency