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Anna Sellers fights through injuries at junior worlds, top 20s for youth biathletes

“I wasn’t looking too pretty for a few days."

AUSTRIA – Canada’s next generation of sharpshooters on skis are making the most of their only race event of the season – but at least it’s the most anticipated one of them all.

The Youth and Junior Biathlon World Championships are underway until Saturday (March 6) in Obertilliach, Austria, which are the breeding grounds for developing biathletes, especially now as it serves as the only highlight of the season for many young racers.

“It’s nice to put on the bib,” said Canmore-native Anna Sellers. “I didn’t appreciate how much having a number and a start time and then being in a pen since we haven’t had anything like that yet, so it was really good to be racing again.”

In her last hoorah at junior worlds, the 21-year-old Canmorite's hopes were high to make some noise, but instead, Sellers was feeling out her racing capabilities after two hard crashes left her picking up the pieces – again.

Before junior worlds, the snow was coming down hard in Bozeman, Montana, where Sellers was competing in a time trial.

The dual-citizen had one of her best off seasons ever with new team Crosscut Mountain Sports Center, making leaps in skiing and shooting. She felt like personal bests were in reach at junior worlds, and is keeping a keen interest on the IBU Cup circuit.

She returned to Canmore confident last November, looking to test herself against the IBU Cup competition. However, the IBU Cup time trial races were cancelled and a small group of Canadians were selected to go overseas.

Still though, junior worlds was a chance to show what she’s worked toward south of the border.

She returned to Montana to prepare, and a week before junior worlds, Sellers caught an edge skiing and went down forcefully, suffering whiplash-related injuries.

Then another ski crash in Europe days before the big event only made things worse for her neck and back.

“I wasn’t looking too pretty for a few days. It scratched up my face pretty bad,” said Sellers.

“Thankfully, I haven’t had anything for my brain, which has been a miracle, honestly. It’s really good for me.”

The young biathlete has been weighed down by concussions over the past few years. The serious brain injury slowed her racing progress, which she thinks she was on the verge of stepping forward in this season.

She had “high hopes,” but the neck and back injuries forced her to readjust her game plan, focusing more on shooting down targets.

In Sunday’s (Feb. 28) 12.5 kilometre, Sellers finished 44th and shot 18/20. In Tuesday’s (March 2) sprint, she finished 66th and shot 7/10, ending her individual racing portion at junior worlds.

“It was such a weird year I feel like it wasn’t an accurate representation of what I’m capable of. I just want to see what I can do next year as a senior,” said Sellers.

“I didn’t feel quite on form just because of some back problems and neck problems and it was kind of unknown if I would even be able to come and race. But I was happy I was able to push through that. Even though I wasn’t feeling as good as I was in November and December, I think I raced to my potential … so I was really happy for it.”

CALGARY’S PARADIS, SHERRINGTON LAND TOP 20S AT YOUTH WORLDS

In youth worlds racing, Calgary’s Jenna Sherrington finished 16th (16/20) in the 10-km, and Calgary’s Pascale Paradis finished 17th (8/10) in the sprint race.

After Paradis got out some first race jitters out of the way (finishing 37th and shooting 13/20 in the 10-km), the Biathlon Alberta Training Centre product was ready for the sprint.

“It was nerve-wracking because we haven’t been able to do any races this year … but I felt pretty good,” said Paradis.

“To have this experience during a pandemic is kind of crazy, so yeah we feel very fortunate to be able to still race."

The youth and junior world championships wrap up the relays March 5-6.


Jordan Small

About the Author: Jordan Small

An award-winning reporter, Jordan Small has covered sports, the arts, and news in the Bow Valley since 2014. Originally from Barrie, Ont., Jordan has lived in Alberta since 2013.
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