Team USA opened a full day of Para biathlon competition Sunday with a medal and multiple top-five finishes in the 12.5-kilometer individual races at the Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium.

Kendall Gretsch earned bronze in the women’s sitting race to secure her second medal of the Paralympic Games. Aaron Pike and Joshua Sweeney finished fourth and fifth in the men’s sitting race, while Danielle Aravich placed sixth in the women’s standing event.

Warm afternoon temperatures softened the snow across the course, forcing athletes to adjust their lines and pacing as conditions shifted between shaded and sun-exposed sections of the track.

The individual race is the longest biathlon format on the Paralympic program, combining five laps of skiing with four shooting stages. Each missed target adds a one-minute penalty to an athlete’s time, placing a premium on accuracy at the range.

WOMEN’S SITTING INDIVIDUAL

The women’s sitting race opened the day with 12 athletes on the start list.

Erin Martin started first for the United States, followed later in the interval start by Oksana Masters and Gretsch.

Gretsch stayed in contention through the early stages of the race with clean shooting across her first three visits to the range. She entered the final shooting stage among the leaders before missing one target that added a one-minute penalty.

“That was a really tough race and it definitely came down to the last shooting,” Gretsch said. “It was a tough and long race but I’m really happy about it.”

Korean skier Yunji Kim secured gold in 38:00.1, with Germany’s Anja Wicker taking silver in 38:12.9. Gretsch finished third in 38:36.1.

“I don’t think you can ask for anything better,” Gretsch said of opening the Games with two medals. “It’s definitely a good start to the races and I can hopefully keep building on this.”

Masters finished fourth in 38:47.9 after missing one shot during the second shooting stage. She hit 19 of 20 targets overall.

“Fourth, with the circumstances that I have, I’ll take,” Masters said. “I’m really proud with how I shot today.”

Martin finished 10th in the field of 12, crossing in 49:55.4. Martin enjoyed the opportunity to experience the Paralympic Games with family and friends in attendance. “It was a lot of fun. The energy here is so exciting. It’s unlike Beijing. There’s a big crowd here and I’ve got friends and family here today,” Martin said. “It was really fun to share the experience with them.”

MEN’S SITTING INDIVIDUAL

The men’s sitting race followed with 27 athletes on the start list.

China’s Liu Zixu shot clean to win gold in 34:38.1. Teammate Mao Zhongwu took silver and Ukraine’s Taras Rad claimed bronze.

Team USA placed two athletes just outside the podium.

Pike, the final starter in the race, finished fourth in 37:07.3 after missing one target.

“I gave it all I had,” Pike said. “Missed one, which is 19 for 20, not too bad. But with the people you’re competing against, you kind of have to get it clean.”

During the race Pike also dealt with a broken strap on his sit-ski, forcing him to adjust his handling through corners.

Sweeney followed closely behind in fifth place, finishing in 37:13.7 with one penalty.

“I was hoping to have a better result, but I’m excited that I’m still holding strong in fifth place,” Sweeney said.

WOMEN’S STANDING INDIVIDUAL

The women’s standing race closed the American schedule later in the afternoon.

Aravich opened the race with three clean shooting stages to remain in the medal hunt entering the final visit to the range.

Canada’s Natalie Wilkie shot clean to win gold in 33:01.8. Zhao Zhiqing of China earned silver and Ukraine’s Oleksandra Kononova took bronze.

Aravich missed one shot in the final stage, adding a one-minute penalty that moved her out of podium contention. She finished sixth in 34:47.5.

The biathlon program continues later in the week with additional races at the Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium.