Austria's Sumann, who trailed Svendsen by nine points in the overall standings going into the race, shares the lead with 801 points. There is one race ? Saturday's mass start ? left in the season.

Ivan Tcherezov of Russia, who lies a distant third with 750 points, won the sprint to claim his fourth World Cup victory of the season.

Tcherezov, who won a mass start race in Oslo last Sunday, shot cleanly and finished in 24 minutes 24.3 seconds.

Italy's Christian De Lorenzi also shot clean and came in second, 13.8 seconds behind. Andriy Derezemlya of Belarus missed one target and was 16.7 seconds back for third. Sumann also missed one target, finishing 20 seconds behind Tcherezov.

Brendan Green of Hay River, N.W.T., was the top Canadian in 47th.

Svendsen, who missed one target and had to run a penalty loop, finished eighth, 29.5 seconds behind the winner. Yet it was enough for the Norwegian to win the sprint discipline title with 354 points from 10 races. Tcherezov was 10 points behind for second, followed by Sumann with 292.

The mixed relay will wrap up the season-closing event on Sunday.

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