BIATHLON: Biathlete Darcie Morton has started her European season off in promising style shooting clean and winning the season opening Biathlon Swiss Cup Sprint Event in Andermatt, Switzerland.

Set to represent Australia at the Lillehammer 2016 Winter Youth Olympic Games in February, Morton battled through a disrupted preparation due to food poisoning to post the fastest time for both the Youth Girls Under 19 and Under 17 age classes.

“I really focused in the shooting and it was pleasing to hit clean but I felt very flat skiing,” said the 15-year-old from Marlo in far East Gippsland, Victoria.

Morton is currently studying at the Mals Sports School in the Italian province of Bolzano and on weekends heads to Livigno, Italy, to train with Luca Bormolini.

“It was a tough decision to race Darcie in the 6km Sprint due to her food poisoning scare,” said Bormolini.

“We left the decision to the last minute to prove her fitness but she was keen to race to make an early season qualification for the World Junior Championships.”

Following the positive result Morton did not race in the sprint event in order to focus her attention on the IBU Junior Cup 1 in Obertilliach, Austria, on the 12December.

Morton is likely to be officially selected for Lillehammer 2016 in the coming weeks after standout performances throughout the domestic season.

Australia is set to compete in biathlon, snowboard, cross country skiing, freestyle skiing, ice hockey (skills challenge), luge and short track skating in Lillehammer. The Team is also third reserve for a ladies figure skating position.

Cameron Morton & Olympics.com.au