Oeverby storms to another win, clinches Total Score title

Mats Oeverby of Norway and Lisa Maria Spark of Germany won in the Short Individual at the IBU Cup Obertilliach. Remaining unbeaten in Obertilliach, Oeverby also clinched his first-ever IBU Cup Total Score title.

Oeverby has no breaks

After winning in the Sprint and Pursuit in the first Obertilliach week, Oeverby kept his focus and energy levels on a very high level, taking the Short Individual in 39:28.4. Missing the last shot - just like Oeverby - Isak Frey finished in second place, 14 seconds back. Their teammate Martin Uldal, with 17/20 and the fastest skiing time, finished third, 43.5 seconds back.

The Winner’s Words - Mats Oeverby

My goal for this season was to win the IBU Cup Total Score title, and I am very proud to have achieved that. As for today's race, I woke up this morning with a fever and was unsure if I would be able to compete: it was 50%:50%. However, I am glad I decided to compete because winning is really fun.

WATCH HIGHLIGHTS HERE

Simon Kaiser of Germany, with 18/20, finished in fourth place, 1:02.4 behind the winner. Emilien Claude from France, with 18/20, was four seconds behind Kaiser and finished fifth. Adam Vaclavik of Czechia, with 17/20, completed the Flower ceremony in sixth place, 2:05.3 behind Oeverby.

Spark goes 20/20 for a win

After a perfect shooting performance, Lisa Maria Spark of Germany won in the Short Individual at the IBU Cup in Obertilliach in 36:34.6. Spark was the only athlete with 20/20.

Spark is a Junior Women World Champion in the Individual from the IBU YJ World Championships Soldier Hollow 20202. She also won in the Individual at the Open European Championships 2023 in Lenzerheide, Switzerland.

Chloe Chevalier of France was in the lead until the last standing shooting, where she misses two targets. She finished 12.5 seconds behind Spark. Camille Bened, also from France, with 19/20, completed the podium in the third place, 17.1 seconds back.

The Winner's Words - Lisa Maria Spark

I used bib number 1 very well. I knew I had to be focused on the shooting range to be successful. I ended the race as the only athlete with 20/20 shooting score. To do this at the end of the season - and after I was very close to cut the season short - is a very comforting feeling.

WATCH HIGHLIGHTS HERE

Stefanie Scherer of Germany, with 19/20, finished just half a second behind Bened in the fourth place. Anna Andexer from Austria, with two misses in the first prone stage, crossed the finish line as fifth, 33.9 seconds behind Spark. Karoline Erdal of Norway, with 17/20, finished sixth, 55.7 seconds behind the winner.

Maren Kirkeeide from Norway, competing at the BMW IBU World Cup in Soldier Hollow, is the winner of the Individual Score title.

Jenny Enodd of Norway (only 24th today) retained the lead atop the Total Score standings with 692 points. Oceane Michelon of France (7th today) has 668 points in the second place. Karoline Erdal of Norway (6th today) has 631 points and is third before the IBU Cup continues with the Sprint tomorrow.