Six of New Zealand's best orienteers are aiming high - for a top ten placing - at the 17th World University Championships in Borlänge, Sweden from July 19-23.
Ross Morrison, current NZ Champion at the Middle distance, has high ambitions and is looking to surpass his 10th place at the World Games Sprint in 2009.
"I hope to get a medal in the sprint and top 6 in the middle distance." he said. "The terrain is quite technical but we will have some good preparation, with some of the team at the Junior Worlds beforehand".
Teammate James Bradshaw agrees – "we've got the potential to achieve some of NZ's best ever results. We have a few team members who are going to be realistic challengers for top 10 placings, and if all goes well, perhaps NZ's first podium placing since Al Landels in 1994!"
"The men's team are all in the best shape we have ever been, we are going to be throwing the hammer down on those top European teams. Our girls have all come back with top 25 placings in the past two Junior World's, so they are running hot.
The Sprint distance is one that NZ orienteers will feature in, according to Kate Morrison.
"We've all had a lot of practice in sprint racing around local towns, so we will be really strong at the Sprint distance at Borlänge. I expect to see several placings in the top 10." she commented.
Also in the team are National Champions Lizzie Ingham (Sprint, Long and Relay distance) and Angela Simpson (Junior Sprint and Long distance), and former NZ Sprint champion Tom Reynolds, who placed an excellent 14th at Junior Worlds in 2007.
The World University Orienteering Championships consist of individual races over the Sprint, Middle and Long distances and the Relay.
New Zealand should also fare well over the three-person Relay race.
"We'll be looking at knocking over the typically more favoured countries in the Relay" promised Bradshaw.
"We have the ability to keep up with the top teams in speed and to maintain concentration for the navigational side of the race" added Kate Morrison.
Sweden-based former World Cup winner Alistair Landels is likely to be assisting the team with their final preparations as they look for that extra edge.
The following team has been selected to contest the 2010 World University Orienteering Championships:
Women
- Lizzie Ingham Wellington OC
- Kate Morrison Hawkes Bay OC
- Angela Simpson Rotorua OC
Men
- James Bradshaw Counties Manukau OC
- Ross Morrison Hawkes Bay OC
- Thomas Reynolds North West OC
