12/14/2023
Pulaski High School graduate Deedra Irwin raced to a World Cup-best eighth place in the women’s 7.5km biathlon sprint today, Dec. 14, kicking off the first-ever World Cup in Lenzerheide, Switzerland. She landed just one spot off her career-best seventh place from the 2022 Olympics in Beijing, an historic finish for U.S. Biathlon.
Shooting a perfect 10/10, Irwin crossed the line only 13 seconds behind Germany’s Franziska Preuss and +1.12.6 off the leader, Justine Braisaz-Bouchet of France, who also shot clean. Braisaz-Bouchet was joined on the podium by Norway’s Ingrid Tandrevold and Italy’s Lisa Vittozzi.
Coming into the sprint race in Lenzerheide, Irwin’s World Cup personal best was a 14th in the sprint in Otepää, Estonia, during the 2021/22 season. Jumping six spots to rewrite her personal best as eighth, reiterated Irwin’s place as a top contender amongst the women as they head into the pursuit on Saturday.
The 2010 PHS graduate is the daughter of Rodney and Jennifer Irwin. Congratulations, Deedra! Best of luck in upcoming competition!
The preceding info was taken from an article by Sara Donatello, submitted to the Pulaski News.
See her complete article at: https://www.usbiathlon.org/news/2023/december/14/clean-shooting-propels-irwin-to-eighth-in-lenzerheide