The IBU Junior Cup 2024 in Jakuszyce was a premiere for everyone. For the first time, the competitions took place in the biathlon center in southwestern Poland. The stadium was reopened in September 2022 after a five-year renovation. The athletes competed in individual and two sprint races. The teams from Austria and Germany were dominating the races with numerous podium finishes.

Anna Andexer is running away from everyone in the sprint this season. She has won all five races that took place in the IBU Junior Cup. After her victories in Pokljuka and Ridnaun, she was also the dominant athlete in Jakuszyce. In the competition on Saturday, she hit nine out of ten targets and finished 1:30 minutes faster than Alina Nussbicker from Germany, who also had to run a penalty loop. Julia Vogler, also an athlete from the German Ski Association, completed the podium.

In the second women's sprint on Sunday, the Austrian team was unbeatable. Anna Andexer won again in commanding style, thanks to the fastest ski time and just one penalty at the shooting range. Her teammates Wilma Anhaus and Lara Wagner finished in second and third place. Anhaus also had to run a penalty loop. Lara Wagner even missed two targets.

In the individual on Thursday, Alina Nussbicker from Germany secured her first victory of the season. With only one missed target in twenty shots, she was the best athlete at the shooting range alongside Astrid Plosch (4th place) from Italy and the two Ukrainians Viktoriia Khvostenko (5th place) and Tetiana Tarasiuk (7th place). The silver medal went to Wilma Anhaus, who set the fastest ski time. Third place went to Ilaria Scattolo from Italy. Both athletes missed three targets each.

Austria and Germany also ahead in the men's category

In the men's individual, the German team celebrated a double victory. Benjamin Menz secured victory, finishing 30 seconds ahead of his teammate Franz Schaser with one minute's penalty. Schaser missed one target each in standing shooting. Austria's Lukas Haslinger completed the podium in third place with just one miss and 45 seconds behind the winner Menz.

In the first sprint on Saturday, Jakob Kulbin from Estonia won the race. He left the competition behind with two flawless shooting performances. Fabian Müllauer had the fastest time of the race, but had to settle for second place after missing three targets. Jakub Borgula from Slovakia came third.

Lukas Haslinger from Austria was the best in the sprint race on Sunday. He only missed one target in the prone position and was 20 seconds faster at the finish than his teammate David Neumayr, who, like Haslinger, also had to run a penalty loop. Third place went to Benjamin Menz from Germany, who missed two targets. It was a special day for Enkhsaikhan Enkhbat from Mongolia. He achieved the first top 6 finish for his country in an IBU competition.

After three stops in the IBU Junior Cup, Anna Andexer and Benjamin Menz are leading the overall standings.

Difficult conditions demand a lot from the athletes

The weekend in Jakuszyce was characterized by difficult conditions. Rain and wind made it difficult for the athletes to compete. Despite the adverse conditions, all competitions were able to take place as planned, thanks to the good work of the Jakuszyce organizing committee. This week (February 7 to 11), the IBU Junior Open European Championships 2024 will take place in Jakuszyce. The program includes Individual, Mixed Relay, Single Mixed Relay, Sprint and Mass Start 60.

Photos: IBU I Roman Koksarov