Anchorage's Jeremy Teela racked up the best Olympic finish in history by an American biathlete Sunday by claiming ninth place in the men's 10-kilometer sprint race in Whistler, British Columbia.

Fellow Alaskan Jay Hakkinen of Kasilof was the fourth U.S. finisher, placing 54th.

Teela was 73.9 seconds behind winner Vincent Jay of France.

Vicent and Teela benefited from early starts on day when the weather got worse as the race progressed. Many of the leaders, including defending champ Ole Einar Bjoerndalen of Norway, started later in suffered for it, finishing 17th.

Another late starter, American Tim Burke (47th overall and third among four Americans) told reporters afterwards that wet flurries that slowed the course made the race one of the most unfair competitions he's ever been part of it.