PYEONGCHANG, South Korea (NEWS CENTER Maine) -- Clare Egan of Cape Elizabeth made her Olympic debut Saturday evening in PyeongChang, South Korea. The Cape Elizabeth High School and Wellesley graduate finished 61st in a field of 87.
It was a disappointing day for the American women who finished 51st, 55th, 61st, and 85th.
Egan is considered a strong skier and good prone shooter. She missed one of five shots from the prone position. She missed two shots standing.
For each target missed, the athlete must ski a penalty lap of about thirty seconds.
Forty-six competitors shot better. Twenty-three missed three shots. Just eighteen missed more than three including top American Susan Dunklee who finished 66th.
Egan's finish was two minutes and forty-five seconds behind gold medalist Laura Dahlmeier of Germany.
The next women's event is the 10-kilometer pursuit. Ironically, the top 60 athletes from today's race are given an entry. If any of the competitors chooses not to race, Egan would be given a spot. In that race, she would start 2:42 behind Dahlmeier. It would be extremely difficult for Egan to do anything in that race and also unlikely that she would get in.
The Men's 10-kilometer Pursuit race is Sunday at 6:15 A. M. Eastern. Russell Currier of Stockholm, Maine is expected to toe the line in that race. The start list is expected to be out Saturday afternoon.
