June 4th, The State Games Biathlon was held at the
 Long Beach Ms. shooting range. The Biathlon consisted of running a mile then shooting five shots with a 22 cal. rifle lying down then running another mile and shooting five more shots standing up then running another mile to the finish. Your overall place of finish was determined by total elapsed time plus 20sec. for each shot that missed the target. The run was out and back on a straight flat road. About two tenths of the road was gravel and lumpy. Also it was hot and humid.
 
Anyhow we lined up for the start in the parking lot. Kim Renikie gave the signal to start and low and behold I found myself leading the race. Ok, this wont last long I told myself. I led all the way back to the 1st shooting round. I grabbed my rifle and went prone on the ground. After firing my five shots. I got up to find myself in second place. Some guy had gotten his five shots off before me. I managed to run him down and pass him I was back in front again. By this time I was talking to myself. How well had I shot how well had he shot? Was he holding back to run me down on the last run. BTW I feels really weird being in front. Nobody to chase down, no idea what pace your running. Thinking I can win! Don't fall down on the gravel. The second round of shooting was uneventful and I managed to hold onto the lead. After crossing the finish line. I went to check the targets. That guy shot a perfect score 10 for 10 while I shot 5 out of 10 this meant I was 100 sec. down. I had know idea how many seconds I finished ahead of him. Also Wayne Snow shot a perfect score. so that mint he was in contention also. However Wayne and I warmed up prior to the race and he had a bad chest cold. He dang near coughed up a lung warming up. Anyway after the scoring was all said and done I was awarded 1st overall. I won by one sec. The guy that was second was awarded 1st in military division and Wayne got 1st in the 45-50 Kim got 1st in the police division and Alicia got 1st female and Jackie Calvert got 1st in the over 40 division. John Calvert, last years winner got second in his age group.  Bill Calvert the oldest in the race at 69 years old won his age group.
© Bob Clark