Neuner, Bergman capture gold in World Cup biathlon event

HOCHFILZEN, Austria (AP) -- Two-time Olympic champion Magdalena Neuner of Germany won a 7.5-kilometer World Cup biathlon sprint Friday, three days after she announced she will retire at the end of the season.

On the men's side, Carl Johan Bergman of Sweden captured his second straight biathlon World Cup 10-kilometer sprint.

Neuner hit all her targets and finished in 21 minutes, 9.2 seconds for the 26th victory of her World Cup career.

Kasa Makarainen of Finland was second after one shooting mistake and finished 14.9 seconds behind Neuner. Olga Zaitseva of Russia was another 7.8 seconds back in third.

Neuner extended her lead in the overall standings, 17 points ahead of Makarainen.

Bergman, who won the season-opening sprint in his native Ostersund last week for his first career victory, shot flawlessly and finished in 24 minutes, 41.9 seconds.

Andrei Makoveev of Russia trailed Bergman by 9.2 seconds in second place. Benjamin Weger of Switzerland took third, 19.6 behind.

Martin Fourcade of France, who won both the 20K individual race and the 12.5K pursuit last week, missed two targets and finished 22nd. Fourcade and Bergman share the lead in the overall standings after four events.

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