Canadian Kocher just misses biathlon podium

Canada's Zina Kocher finished fourth in a World Cup biathlon event Sunday, the second-best showing of Kocher's career.

The 27-year-old from Red Deer, Alta., went 20-for-20 shooting for the first time ever en route to clocking a time of 35 minutes, 9.7 seconds in the women's 10-kilometre pursuit in Pokljuka, Slovenia.

Russia's Svetlana Sleptsova won with a time of 34:03.2, while Germany's Magdalena Neuner finished second in 34:39.5 and Russia's Anna Bogaliy-Titovets was third in 34:46.4.

Megan Tandy of Prince George, B.C., was 35th, and Megan Imrie of Falcon Lake, Man., was 51st.

Kocher was the only woman in the top five to shoot clean in her four trips to the range.

"I can't believe it. Of course I wanted to get onto the podium today, but going 20-for-20 feels like winning the gold," said Kocher, who started the day nine spots back of Sleptsova after finishing 10th in Saturday's sprint competition.

"I focused all of my energy into being in a bubble. I kept telling myself to stay calm and breathe, and I just did my thing. I'm ecstatic."

In the pursuit competition, the winner of Saturday's sprint starts first, with the following 60 competitors lining up in the order and time they finished behind.

Kocher, who has battled illness the last two seasons, is trying to recapture the form that saw her reach a World Cup podium three years ago in Sweden.

"I felt like it has been coming and I've taken a more aggressive approach last weekend," she said. "This week has filled me with confidence and faith knowing that I am back to my old self.

"This is an excellent Christmas present and a great way to head into January and the Olympic year."

Jean-Philippe Le Guellec of Shannon, Que., finished 13th in the men's 12.5-kilometre pursuit, an event won by Russia's Evgeny Ustyugov. Roland Lessing of Estonia and Austria's Simon Eder rounded out the podium.

Brendan Green of Hay River, N.W.T., finished 54th.