JWOC Relay: Sweden supreme!

JWOC Relay: Sweden supreme!

Sweden, already the most successful nation at the Junior World Championships, had a dream day in the Relay with both women’s and men’s teams taking the gold medals. Both races ended with exciting sprint finishes.

The women’s relay was won by 10 seconds ahead of Norway, and there was then a long wait before the third team came in – a big surprise, Switzerland 2 where Lisa Schubnell had picked up several places on the final leg. Heidi Mårtensson came in first for Norway at the end of the first leg, with Sweden’s Tilda Johansson in fourth place, but Frida Sandberg got ahead for Sweden on the second leg. Mathilde Runhaug, setting out 20 seconds behind Sara Hagström, brought Norway in front again briefly early in the final leg, but Sara Hagström ran strongly and ensured the gold for Sweden. Switzerland 1 came in fourth, and then followed Ukraine, Finland and France.

Anton Johansson secured the men’s gold medals for Sweden on last leg, but Marek Minár, Czech Republic, who went out on last leg together with Sven Heilmüller, Switzerland,  was only 10 seconds down at the end with the Swiss runner 3 seconds further behind. It was the second-leg runners in all three teams who set up the exciting final leg after their first leg runners had come in somewhat down in the pack. The other podium places were taken by France, Latvia and New Zealand.

Leading results (provisional)

Women

1. Sweden (Tilda Johansson, Frida Sandberg, Sara Hagström) 1:38:18
2. Norway (Heidi Mårtensson, Gunvor Hov Høydal, Mathilde Runhaug) 1:38:27
3. Switzerland (Paula Gross, Sina Tommer, Lisa Schubnell) 1:24:24
4. Ukraine 1:24:53
5. Finland 1:26:03
6. France 1:26:08

Men

1. Sweden (Assar Hellström, Simon Hector, Anton Johansson) 1:36:30
2. Czech Republic (Ondrej Semik, Jonás Hubácek, Marek Minár) 1:36:40
3. Switzerland (Jonas Egger, Tobia Pezzati, Sven Heilmüller) 1:36:43
4. France 1:38:30
5. Latvia 1:38:42
6. New Zealand 1:39:05

Photos: Erik Borg