A week after the spectacular World Cup final in Oslo, the Norwegian biathlon stars still have the national championships in Stklestad. In the absence of superstar Ingrid Landmark Tandmark Tangrevold, Maren Hjelmeset Kirkeeide secured the title thanks to a brilliant final round. The 22-year-old was totally surprised by her triumph.
“It is absolutely mad. What a last round,” enthused “NRK” expert Marte Olsbu Røiseland when the new Norwegian sprint champion Maren Hjelmeset Kirkeeide crossed the finish line in Stklestad after 7.5 kilometers. For the 22-year-old it is already the third triumph in the national title fights. In 2023 she won in the sprint and the mixed relay.
The tenth of the overall World Cup owed her championship title of a breathtaking final round. Kirkeeide did around 30 seconds on the last 2.5 kilometers on Hanna Børve, who finished second after the youngster’s spectacular chase.
Biathlon star “One of the best final runners in the world”
“She delivered again. I would not have thought that she would make it, but we saw what a huge leap she did there,” was also astonished TV expert Ola Lunde and described Kirkeide “as one of the best final runners in the world”.
According to her own statement, the Norwegian had not even noticed that she was within reach of the title. “I was fourth after the second shooting and was 23 seconds behind,” said Kirkeeide, who had lost time again at her final round.
“Then I was told that I lost seven seconds and I thought it was only a matter of third place. When I crossed the finish line, I didn’t really know what I crossed her,” she said her race, which she ended with zero errors at the shooting range.