Scandinavian orienteers dominated the Middle distance finals at the Junior World Orienteering Championships in San Martino, Italy, taking five of the top six podium positions.
The three New Zealand finalists in the womens race, Georgia Whitla, Kate Morrison and Angela Simpson had strong races but failed to make an impact on the classy field.
The womens race was won by rising Swedish star (and Junior World ski-Orienteering champion) Tove Alexandersson, who ran an almost perfect race to cover the 3.1 km of the final in 23:24 minutes.
“I started very early with orienteering. My parents do the sport and when I was seven years old, I started to compete.”
Ingunn Britt Nydal (NOR) was second, only 18 seconds back, with long distance champion, Ida Bobach, in third.
Eighteen year old Kate Morrison (Hawkes Bay) while philosophical about her final race was still pleased with her efforts - "I'm very happy to make the A-finals three years running" she said.
Morrison's 22nd placing in the Long distance, behind teammate Greta Knarston (19th) was also a big highlight of the Championships for New Zealand and she will be hoping to improve on this in 2010.
The mens race was won by Finnish four-time junior world ski-orienteering champion Olli-Markus Taivainen, who had a great race finishing the 4.1 km orienteering course in 26’21’’.
Philipp Sauter (SUI) was the only non-Scandinavian medallist in the Middle distance, with Ulf Forseth Indgaard (NOR) in third.
Thomas Reynolds ran well for a 6th place in the B-final after narrowly missing the A-Final cut by 44 seconds.
Saturday July 11 will be the closing day of the 2009 Junior World Orienteering Championships and the last race will be the team relay, to take place in Val Canali, one of the spectacular valleys of the Primero area, at the base of the Dolomites.
New Zealand will field two teams of three each in the mens and womens relays, with in- form runners Reynolds and Morrison leading the New Zealand charge against the best junior orienteers in the World.
Results - Junior World Orienteering Championships - Middle distance final
Women - Middle distance A Final
| 1. | Tove Alexandersson | SWE | 23:24 |
| 2. | Britt Ingunn Nydal | NOR | 23:42 |
| 3. | Ida Bobach | DEN | 23:59 |
| 4. | Fiona Kirk | SUI | 24:11 |
| 5= | Bettina Aebi | SUI | 24:54 |
| 5= | Julia Gross | SUI | 24:54 |
| 7. | Marika Teini | FIN | 24:58 |
| 8. | Kristin Löfgren | SWE | 24:59 |
| 9. | Signe Klinting | DEN | 25:07 |
| 10. | Mari Jevne Arnesen | NOR | 25:17 |
| ... | |||
| 55. | Georgia Whitla | NZL | 32:18 |
| 56. | Angela Simpson | NZL | 33:04 |
| 59. | Kate Morrison | NZL | 35:14 |
Women - Middle distance B Final
| 1. | Linn Hokholt | NOR | 24:23 |
| 2. | Alizee Gaillard | FRA | 26:16 |
| 3. | Jutta Torggler | ITA | 27:11 |
| 4. | Belinda Lawford | AUS | 27:29 |
| 5. | Elisa Elstner | AUT | 27:37 |
| 6. | Krystal Neumann | AUS | 28:40 |
| 7. | Bridget Anderson | AUS | 28:46 |
| 8. | Zenia Hejlskov Mogensen | DEN | 29:24 |
| 9. | Aislinn Prendergast | AUS | 29:48 |
| 10. | Nicola Peat | NZL | 30:58 |
| 20. | Greta Knarston | NZL | 35:27 |
| 27. | Rachel Goodwin | NZL | 36:54 |
Men - Middle distance A Final
| 1. | Olli-Markus Taivainen | FIN | 26:21 |
| 2. | Philipp Sauter | SUI | 27:00 |
| 3. | Ulf Forseth Indgaard | NOR | 27:39 |
| 4. | Martin Hubmann | SUI | 28:05 |
| 5. | Søren Bobach | DEN | 28:24 |
| 6. | Albin Ridefelt | SWE | 28:36 |
| 7. | Gustav Bergman | SWE | 28:52 |
| 8. | Matthias Kyburz | SUI | 28:57 |
| 9. | Matej Klusacek | CZE | 29:00 |
| 10. | Daniel Hajek | CZE | 29:28 |
Men - Middle distance B Final
| 1. | Yury Tambasau | BLR | 22:08 |
| 2. | Vegard Ruttenborg | NOR | 25:04 |
| 3. | Kris Jones | GBR | 25:18 |
| 4. | Siarhei Fedatsenka | BLR | 25:26 |
| 5. | Kenny Kivikas | EST | 25:27 |
| 6. | Thomas Reynolds | NZL | 26:13 |
| 7. | Victor Mansner | FIN | 26:15 |
| 8. | Andris Jubelis | LAT | 26:17 |
| 9. | Karlis Dislers | LAT | 26:17 |
| 10. | Mykola Odchuk | UKR | 26:31 |
| ... | |||
| 14. | Simon Jager | NZL | 27:21 |
| 16. | Scott McDonald | NZL | 27:40 |
| 22. | Toby Scott | NZL | 29:06 |
| 32= | Andrew Peat | NZL | 30:13 |
| 32= | Jourdan Harvey | NZL | 30:13 |
