By Mike Maltais
Biathletes Casey Smith, Kelsey Dickinson and Paul Everett spent last week in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic, skiing, shooting and placing in the International Biathlon Union’s Open European Championships.
Smith just missed making the 2014 U.S. Olympic Team in the IBU Cup finals at Ridnaun, Italy, last month.
Dickinson and Everett were both named to the U.S. World Junior Biathlon Team and European Championship Team in January.
Smith, who is competing in his first season in the IBU men’s category, placed 22nd in the 20K individual race, 30th in the 10K sprint and 40th in the12.5K pursuit.
Dickinson, competing among junior women, finished 50th in the 15K, 58th in the 7.5K sprint and 47th in the 10K pursuit. She is currently a sophomore attending the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minn.
“I’m so proud of how she has held it all together,” Janice Dickinson told the News earlier this week, regarding her daughter’s first year of European competition.
Everett, a junior men’s competitor, placed 65th in the 15K individual, 62nd in the 10K sprint and “just missed being able to race in the pursuit,” said Methow Valley Biathlon coach Betsy Devin-Smith.
Smith and Dickinson are headed to Pokljuka, Slovenia, followed by Rosenau, Austria, for two more weekends of races. Their coach will be there as well.
“I am heading to help coach the U.S. athletes in Slovenia and Austria,” Devin-Smith said.
Everett, who just missed qualifying as a top-60 finisher, will return home to continue training in preparation for the Youth/Junior World Championships that start Feb. 25 in Presque Isle, Maine.
