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Dorin Habert wins 12.5-kilometer mass start worlds title

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OSLO, Norway (AP) Johannes Thingnes Boe of Norway won a thrilling duel to clinch the 15-kilometer mass start at the biathlon worlds on Sunday, while Marie Dorin Habert of France took the women's race.

The 22-year-old Boe outfought Martin Fourcade of France over the last kilometer and finished in 37 minutes, 5.1 seconds before his home crowd at the Holmenkollen ski centre, with Fourcade 2.8 seconds behind.

Both athletes had to ski one penalty round.

''My legs are trembling. I was really spent on the last lap, and my aim then was a medal. Then I saw Fourcade, and I thought `I can try at least,''' said Boe, who clinched his second gold in two days after Norway's men won the relay on Saturday.

Fourcade was struggling even more than Boe.

''My body was just empty today, and when I saw Johannes come up behind, I felt that my chances were not so good,'' Fourcade said.

The bronze medal went to 43-year-old Ole Einar Bjorndalen who hit all targets, but could not fully match the pace of Boe and Fourcade in the frantic finish. He ended 6.7 seconds behind Boe.

In the women's event, Dorin Habert captured her sixth medal at the biathlon worlds, winning the 12.5-kilometer mass start in 35:28.5 without penalty rounds.

She was the only competitor in the top nine to hit all 20 targets.

Laura Dahlmeier of Germany was second, 7.3 seconds behind, with Makarainen 0.8 seconds further back in third. Both had to ski one penalty round.

Dorin Habert, 29, finished the worlds with gold medals in the mixed relay, the individual 15-kilometers and the mass start. She was a runner-up in the sprint and women's relay events. In the pursuit she was beaten into third.

''I do not have words, I do not know how I did it,'' Dorin Habert said.

Tora Berger of Norway is the only previous woman to win six medals at the worlds in 2003.