Hakkinen, Teela compete in WC opener (Biathlon)
Alaskans Jay Hakkinen and Jeremy Teela of the U.S. Biathlon Team kicked off the World Cup season today in Sweden.
Hakkinen, a three-time Olympian from Kasilof, finished 28th out of 131 finishers in the men’s 20-K race, the same event he placed 10th in at the 2006 Olympics.
On this day, though, the Alaskan missed three targets and finished 3½ minutes behind winner Emil Hegle Svendsen of Norway. American Tim Burke was second, 35 seconds back.
Meanwhile, Teela missed four targets and placed 88th overall and fourth out of five Americans.
Teela, the 1995 Alaska Boys Skimeister from Service High, is a two-time Olympian.
Both Alaskans are expected to represent Uncle Sam at the 2010 Games in February, giving Hakkinen four career appearances and Teela three.
