Strong runs from Angela Simpson (Rotorua), Matt Ogden (Auckland) and Scott McDonald (Hawkes Bay) in the Junior World Orienteering Championships have put them through to the Middle distance final.
With only the fastest 20 from each heat of 53 men and 37 women counting, the much favoured Scandinavians performed best, and all twelve of each the Swedish and Norwegian teams qualified, as well as nine from the host country Denmark.
The race was held in a remote area of Jutland, characterised by limited communications from the race.
In lieu of a prescient octopus the online orienteering community resorted to snap polls to estimate a country's likely chances - including a poll for whether Australia would qualify an orienteer (result = No 63%).
Angela Simpson was once again the fastest of the New Zealanders, finishing her heat in 5th place, 1:25 minutes ahead of Ida Bobach, the Sprint and Long distance champion.
And after missing out on qualifying any finalists in 2009, the Kiwi men ran a smarter and faster race this year.
While Toby Scott missed a finals berth by just 48 seconds, both Matt Ogden and Scott McDonald qualified in 12th and 15th place.
Luckily for Australia, the community poll was wrong and they qualified one runner, Belinda Lawford.
The Middle distance finals take place on Friday July 9 and the Relays on the next day.
Results, 2010 Junior World Orienteering Championships
Aalborg, Denmark
Middle Distance Qualification (July 8)
All runners New Zealand unless otherwise noted.
Heat 1, Women 3.15 km
1 Anastasia Trubkina, Russia, 23:20 (qual)
5 Angela Simpson, 24:15 (q)
31 Kate Morrison, 32:41
Heat 2, Women 3.175 km
1 Emma Klingenberg, Denmark, 23:21(q)
27 Jaime Goodwin, 29:37
36 Jula Mcmillan, 34:13
Heat 3, Women 3.2 km
1 Sarina Jenzer, Switzerland 22:45 (q)
24 Laura Robertson, 27:36
33 Selena Metherall, 31:04
Heat 1, Men 3.8 km
1 Gaute Hallan Steiwer, Norway, 21:38 (q)
33 Gene Beveridge, 26:34
39 Jourdan Harvey, 27:29
Heat 2, Men 3.825 km
1 Matthias Kyburz, Switzerland, 21:00 (q)
12 Matt Ogden, 24:27 (q)
42 Duncan Morrison, 30:26
Heat 3, Men 3.8 km
1 Rasmus Thrane Hansen, Denmark, 21:43 (q)
15 Scott Mcdonald, 24:09 (q)
28 Toby Scott, 25:33
