Ski Orienteering World Cup: Alexandersson and Khrennikov win Long Distance

Ski Orienteering World Cup: Alexandersson and Khrennikov win Long Distance

Tove Alexandersson, Sweden again showed that she is the strongest in the women’s field with a win by 2.30 today. Eduard Khrennikov, Russia was 13 seconds ahead of Ulrik Nordberg, Sweden in the finish at the end of a close race.

The race today had a mass start with loops, and in the women’s race Tove Alexandersson led from the start, gradually building up her lead.  Closest to her was the Russian Mariya Kechkina, and another Russian, Polina Frolova, came to the finish 1.07 after Kechkina. Three Finns filled fourth to sixth places.

Eduard Khrennikov showed again that he still has the strength and skill to win world-level races, after many years of being at or near the top, but the much younger Swede Ulrik Nordberg didn’t let him get completely away. The Swedish team had a good day with four athletes in the top six, Martin Hammarberg narrowly beat Erik Rost to take third place, 1.51 down on Khrennikov.

This was the last race in this round at Ylläs, Finland; the next round is in Germany in late January and is coupled with the World Masters Ski Orienteering Championships.

Leading results

Women, 16.2 km

1. Tove Alexandersson SWE 1:01:11
2. Mariya Kechkina RUS 1:03:41
3. Polina Frolova RUS 1:04:48
4. Salla Koskela FIN 1:05:11
5. Mira Kaskinen FIN 1:05:20
6. Sonja Moersky FIN 1:06:24

Men, 23.5 km

1. Eduard Khrennikov RUS 1:23:58
2. Ulrik Nordberg SWE 1:24:11
3. Martin Hammarberg SWE 1:25:49
4. Erik Rost SWE 1:25:50
5. Tuomas Kotro FIN 1:26:09
6. Markus Lundholm SWE 1:26:12