Strong running and smart thinking from Rotorua's Angela Simpson gave her a brilliant start to her week-long Junior World Orienteering Championships campaign in Denmark.
Simpson finished in 17th place in the Sprint distance, 77 seconds behind the winner Ida Bobach of Denmark, and just a tantalising 12 seconds out of the top ten placings.
Since finishing 24th in the Sprint at last years Junior Worlds in Italy, Simpson has put together a string of classy results, including National titles and wins over leading Australasian elites, showing new reserves of mental and physical strength.
It is expected that this strength will lead to an improvement on this brilliant Sprint 17th place, in the Middle and Long distance races over the next few days.
Laura Robertson made an excellent debut at the Junior Worlds with her 27th placing as did her Hutt Valley clubmate Jula McMillan in 47th.
Aucklander Toby Scott was likewise 82 seconds behind the winner Rasmus Thrane Hansen (Denmark) but had to settle for 33rd place in the 154 strong mens field.
Matt Ogden (Auckland) was next for the New Zealand men in 70th, while an early navigational error for Jourdan Harvey put him out of contention for a top 20 placing.
Results, 2010 Junior World orienteering Championships
Aalborg, Denmark
Sprint, Women 2.3km
1 Bobach, Ida Denmark 13:36
2 Wisniewska, Hanna Poland 14:00
3 Gajda, Monika Poland 14:03
...
17 Simpson, Angela New Zealand 14:53
17 Sund, Gøril Rønning Norway 14:53
27 Robertson, Laura New Zealand 15:25
47 Mcmillan, Jula New Zealand 16:27
52 Morrison, Kate New Zealand 16:36
61 Metherell, Selena New Zealand 16:52
94 Goodwin, Jaime New Zealand 19:12
Sprint, Men 2.7 km
1 Hansen, Rasmus Thrane Denmark 13:04
2 Jones, Kristian Great Britain 13:23
3 Danielsen, Vegard Norway 13:25
...
33 Scott, Toby New Zealand 14:29
70 Ogden, Matt New Zealand 15:15
75 Mcdonald, Scott New Zealand 15:24
103 Morrison, Duncan New Zealand 16:14
107 Beveridge, Gene New Zealand 16:23
118 Harvey, Jourdan New Zealand 16:56
