Gold for Norway and Sweden in JWOC Long Distance

Gold for Norway and Sweden in JWOC Long Distance

Gunvor Hov Høydal, Norway and Anton Johansson, Sweden, were the winners of the Long Distance race in the Junior World Orienteering Championships in Bulgaria today. Johansson, who won the bronze medal in the Sprint yesterday and the silver at Middle Distance a year ago, won his race by more than one minute.

After the middle and late starters faced heavy rain and thunder and therefore slippery streets in the Sprint yesterday, it was for many a gruelling day in the hills around Malyovitsa today. The winning time on the women’s course was 13 minutes longer than the course planner’s estimate; on the other hand, the fastest men completed their course 5 minutes quicker than estimated! Overall it was a serious physical and technical challenge.

Gunvor Hov Høydal, whose best result last year was sixth in the Middle race, beat the new Sprint champion Sara Hagström, Sweden by 3 seconds on the 7.2 km women’s course with 210 m climb. Bronze medallist was the Finn Emmi Jokela, exactly one minute down on the winner’s time.

Anton Johansson, Sprint bronze medallist yesterday, went two rungs higher on the ladder today with victory over his team-mate Assar Hellström by 61 seconds. There was also a big gap to the bronze medal position, taken by Marek Minár, Czech Republic in a time 3.28 down on the winner. In this race over 10.2 km with 280 m climb, Germany (Moritz Doellgast) and Italy (Riccardo Scalet) can be pleased with 9^th and 10^th places respectively. Thirteen different nations were represented in the top 20 in the results.

Tomorrow is a well-deserved rest day, with the Middle Distance Qualification scheduled for Friday at Zheleznica.

Leading results (provisional)

Women

1. Gunvor Hov Høydal NOR 1:08:15
2. Sara Hagström SWE 1:08:18
3. Emmi Jokela FIN 1:09:15
4. Anna Haataja FIN 1:11:45
5. Mathilde Rundhaug NOR 1:11:58
6. Paula Gross SUI 1:13:15

Men

1. Anton Johansson SWE 1:15:17
2. Assar Hellström SWE 1:16:18
3. Marek Minár CZE 1:18:45
4. Ivan Kuchmenko RUS 1:19:36
5. Olli Ojanaho FIN 1:19:39
6. Miika Kirmula FIN 1:19:58