WOC 2017: Outsanting win by Tove Alexandersson

Tove Alexandersson, Sweden took her second gold medal in three days with an outstanding run in the Middle distance at the Nokian Tyres World Orienteering Championships. Her winning lead was 2.10.

The very strong Swedish athlete showed from the start that she meant business today, setting new fastest times at every control and making only small hesitations. She continued in the same vein throughout, gradually building up an unassailable lead and taking sound routes all the way, to make a successful defence of her title won on home ground last year.

Silver medallist today was the very experienced Norwegian Marianne Andersen, one of only two of the current leading athletes to run in Estonia in the European Championships 11 years ago. She too ran a very good technical race, but could not match Alexandersson’s speed through the forest. “I made only some small errors, never more than 30 seconds,” she said. “My tactic was to stop, and continue very carefully, when unsure. This silver is like a gold for me!”

There was a close fight for the bronze medal, which was won by Finland’s Venla Harju who just missed a medal in the Sprint, after a strong challenge from Svetlana Mironova, Russia. Emily Kemp, Canada excelled to get a top six placing for the second year running.

Alexandersson said she was really satisfied with her race, and took her time on the few occasions she lost concentration slightly and was uncertain of her position. “I was running the shortest way and trying to be focused all the way reading the details. It is almost a clean race. I had good focus all the way and didn´t make any mistakes at the controls.”

Tomorrow the final races of the Championships take place, the relays.

WOC 2017 website: www.woc2017.ee.

[Press release from the International Orienteering Federation 2017-07-06. Photo: Matias Salonen, IOF Digital Team]

World Orienteering Championships 2021 awarded to the Czech Republic

At today’s IOF Presidents’ Conference, the organisers of several IOF Major Events were announced. Most notably, the Czech Republic will host both the World Orienteering Championships in 2021 and the World MTB Orienteering Championships in 2020.

The World Orienteering Championships 2021 will be in the Czech Republic/Czechoslovakia for the fourth time (1972 Czechoslovakia, 1991 Czechoslovakia, 2008 Czech Republic). In 2021, the city of Mladá Boleslav will host the championships. The World MTB Orienteering Championships 2020 will be hosted by the city of Jeseník, Czech Republic.

World championships

World Orienteering Championships 2021 Czech Republic

World MTB Orienteering Championships 2020 Czech Republic

Junior World Orienteering Championships 2020 Turkey

World Masters Orienteering Championships 2020 Slovakia

World Masters MTB Orienteering Championships 2019 Germany

Regional championships

Asian Orienteering Championships 2018 Hong Kong

European Youth Orienteering Championships 2019 Belarus

[Press Release from the International Orienteering Federation 2017-07-05]

WOC 2017: Alexandersson and Lundanes retain Long distance golds

Both Tove Alexandersson, Sweden, and Olav Lundanes, Norway won the Long distance at Nokian Tyres World Orienteering Championships for the second year in a row.

Tove Alexandersson, Sweden, ran a near-perfect race in the difficult Estonian terrain of the Long distance today, with only Sprint champion Maj Alm, Denmark, able to come anywhere near challenging her time.

- It was a good race and I was fighting all the way. I am very satisfied with the race and the gold, she said.

For Maja Alm, this was far and away her best result in a forest race, although she has shown on many occasions that she is a very good runner and navigator in forest terrain. Three days of sprint racing appeared not to have affected her performance. Natalia Gemperle, Russia, proved yet again that she is becoming one of the strongest and most consistent performers at world level in taking the bronze today, 5.36 down on Alexandersson.

In the men’s class, Olav Lundanes showed his determination in the way he set out from the start – almost a sprint down the run-out route. He posted fastest times throughout the course, but his run was not faultless. About making a mistake:

- I know I was close to the control, but it is difficult even if you are close to it in the green Estonian forest, he said.

This was his fifth individual WOC gold, and just like Tove Alexandersson he retains his Long distance title from last year.

- I am really really happy I managed to win two years in a row, and also get my fourth Long distance gold. They are all completely different and I am proud I have been able to win in different terrains, he said.

Silver medallist and closest contender throughout was Russian Leonid Novikov. The bronze medal went to the Swedish athlete William Lind, his first individual WOC medal. Norway’s strength in depth in this kind of race showed as they took fourth and fifth places.

For the full official results, go the WOC webpage: www.woc2017.ee.

[Press Release from the International Orientering Federation 2017-07-04; photo: Malin Fuhr]

WOC 2017: Sweden wins Sprint Relay

Sweden won the Sprint Relay at the Nokian Tyres World Orienteering Championships in Viljandi, Estonia. Denmark was second and Switzerland third.

The Swedish Sprint Relay team finally managed to be world champions.

- We have been fighting in the top for a long time, but this is the first time we finished on top. I couldn´t have dreamed about a better start of the championships, says last leg runner Helena Jansson.

The sprint terrain was challenging with a mix of urban terrain and steep slopes. The deciding moment came on the third leg when Great Britain and Switzerland made big mistakes. Jonas Leandersson in the Swedish team kept calm and got a 40 second lead.

- I managed to keep focused but I was surprised at the big gap at the end, says Jonas Leandersson.

Helena Jansson made a good race without any mistakes and Sweden won with a margin of 29 seconds.

- I focused really hard on my technical performance and I am really happy with the gold, says Helena Jansson.

The reigning champions Denmark won the silver after a very strong finish from Maja Alm. Switzerland with Sabine Hauswirth on the final leg took the bronze.

For the full official results, go the WOC webpage: www.woc2017.ee.

[Press release from the International Orienteering Federation 2017-07-02]

WOC 2017: Maja Alm and Daniel Hubmann World Champions in Sprint

The 2017 Nokian Tyres World Orienteering Championships kicked off today with the Sprint. The Danish Sprint Queen Maja Alm won for the third year in a row. In the men’s class Daniel Hubmann won, making this his 7th gold medal at World Orienteering Championships.

Orienteering’s Sprint Queen continues her reign

The Sprint at Nokian Tyres World Orienteering Championships took place in Tartu, Estonia, today. Maja Alm, Denmark, took a new momentous victory, after running an excellent race. She was 37 seconds faster than the silver medallist Natalia Gemperle, Russia.

- I feel very happy and it is also a relief. I have been looking forward so much to this day although I am getting more and more nervous every year. I am very proud of this medal, as the pressure is getting bigger and bigger, says Maja Alm.

Galina Vinogradova, Russia, was third just one second after Gemperle.

Close competition

In the tight men’s class, the Swiss Daniel Hubmann ran an impressive race and finished two seconds faster than Frederic Tranchand, France.

- It feels so great now, especially because I have focused a lot on sprint training ahead of these championships, says Daniel Hubmann.

Last year’s world champion Jerker Lysell, Sweden, took the bronze.

For the full official results, go the WOC webpage: www.woc2017.ee.

[Press Release from the International Orienteering Federation 2017-07-01; Photo Mathias Salonen | IOF Digital Team]