-
-
- Heard Around the Track
BISHOP GUILFOYLE'S SONJA HINISH SELECTED
TO REPRESENT THE U.S. IN THE SUMMER BIATHLON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS.
Sonja
Hinish (left @ 2001 Red Flash Invitational
@ St. Francis University), a junior at Bishop Guilfoyle
High School in Altoona, Pennsylvania, has been selected to represent
the United States in the Summer Biathlon World Championships
to be held at the end of August in the Czech Republic. Hinish
was selected for the team after a three-day competition in the
World Championship Trials in West Yellowstone, Montana July
12-14. In her first two years of scholastic competition,
Hinish finished 10th (2000) and 9th (2001) in the PIAA Class
AA Cross Country Championships and 9th (2001) and 4th (2002)
in the 3200 meter state final.
Hinish will be joined on the team by Cassie Hunt of Indiana and Lindsay Burt of Idaho. Both Hunt and Burt are high school seniors and are on the US National Team already. Burt has competed in the last two World Championships and was the top junior at last year’s National Championship…just over a minute in front of Hinish. Hunt represented the United States in the European Cup races last fall. This spring she won the Indiana State Championship at 1600 meters (running a 4:54 in the state meet). Hunt also finished 9th in the 3000 (9:55) at the USATF Junior National Track Championships a few weeks ago.
The senior women on the team are twin sisters Laura Haefeli of Colorado and Ann Sorenson of Montana. These two women have won numerous national titles in summer biathlon. The final member of the team is two-time Winter Olympian Kristina Sebasteanski of Maine. Summer Biathlon combines the sports of cross country running and rifle marksmanship. Hinish only took up shooting last year and has been improving her shooting performance gradually since last fall, when she finished ninth in the US National Championship with a 30% shooting effort. Less than a year later, she shot an average of 42% in the three-race series at the trials. But, competitors only counted the best two of their three races in the selection process. In her best two races, Hinish averaged an impressive 61% shooting performance and combined that with some tough running at the 6500 feet altitude of West Yellowstone.
The first day of competition was a 4 kilometer (2.5 mile) sprint race in which the competitors ran three loops and shot twice (5 shots each time). Competitors are penalized for misses by running a 100 meter penalty loop for each missed target. Hinish hit a total of 5 out of 10 targets in the first race and would end up finishing fifth. She joined two other juniors (19 and under) in the top five of the women’s field…thus proving the strength of the US juniors. Her 50% shooting performance in that race was a career best. “I was happy with my first day’s performance and optimistic about the rest of the races,” said Hinish.
Day two of the competition was a 6 kilometer (3.75 mile) race in which competitors ran five loops and shot four times. Unfortunately, Hinish would struggle in the range during this race, which favors the better shooters. She hit just 4 out of 20 targets and subsequently had to run an extra mile in penalty loops alone. After her third shooting stage it became apparent that this was not to be her day. So, she made the strategic decision to back off her running for the last two loops and bank on a better performance on the final day of competition, since only the best two of the three races count. “After I was out of it in the 2nd day, I just saved myself for the next race. I knew the relay format the next day suited my strengths better anyway,” said Hinish.
So, the pressure was on for day three. “I felt more pressure on the third day. I knew I had to have a good race because of the poor shooting I had the previous day. They take the best two of your three races. So, I had to do well during the last race,” said Hinish. The relay format for the third day was the same as the first day, except competitors are allowed three extra rounds of ammunition during each shooting stage…meaning they have eight bullets with which to knock down five targets. Traditionally, this race is known more as a runner’s race, whereas the previous day’s format is better suited for the strong shooters. Hinish would once again prove that she is among the strongest runners in the sport but would surprise even herself with a 69% shooting effort. She did not use any extra rounds during the first stage of shooting as she cleaned all five targets with her first five shots…another career first. She left the range in second place and returned in the same position for her final stage of shooting. Hinish used all eight bullets and left the range with one penalty. As she headed out on the running course for her final loop, she found herself in fifth place. A few minutes later she returned to the finish line in fourth place after a gutsy run.
Asked about the experience of trials, Hinish said, “It was harder running there because of the high altitude. And the field of women was very strong so each mistake was very costly.” This was Hinish’s first time racing at altitude, where less Oxygen in the air presents a challenge to sea level competitors. As for her outlook toward the World Championship, Hinish said, “I think it’s going to be a great experience to meet athletes from the other countries. We do have a strong group of junior women and we hope to do well in the relay.”
Summer Biathlon Program Director Marc Sheppard had this to say: Sonja Hinish is part of a very strong Junior Women's Team that will represent the US at the World Championships. Each of them, including Sonja, has a very good chance of medaling in the individual events. As a team they are favored to be on the podium, possibly in the gold medal position, in the relay. The 3 Junior Women on the WCH Team have an average age of less than 17 but they each possess a competitive maturity which is far beyond many of their seasoned Senior teammates. Although
Sonja is the only Women's Team Member without international experience, her obvious competitive maturity will be an asset in her first World Championships experience. Sonja has impressed me with her competitive drive, ability to focus in pressure situations, and her gracious acceptance of both successes and defeats. In 22 seasons of Biathlon competition I have never seen a young athlete rise to Sonja's level of achievement so quickly.
Hinish will start in the Junior Women’s 4 km sprint race on Thursday, August 29. She will compete in the 4.5 km pursuit race the next day. She will then get a day off before the Junior Women’s 3 x 4 km relay on Sunday, September 1. More information on Summer Biathlon in the United States can be found at www.usbiathlon.org. For more information on the World Championships, go to the event’s website: www.summerbiathlon.cz.
- Heard Around the Track
-
Designed and Maintained by Dalton, Rich & More