The 2012 Junior World Orienteering Championships started yesterday with the Opening Ceremony in Kosice, Slovakia. The first event in the programme was the Sprint Event that took place this afternoon, 8th July. The course took the athletes from the north of the city to the finish in the centre. The British athletes found the course to be technically simple but very fast. The other challenge was the heat, which hit a high of 34 degrees for the final starters.

Jamie Stevenson was the highest finishing male British athlete in 25th place. After finishing the course he said "It was what I expected. It was fast and hot! I feel that I prepared as well as I could do. I came out to Kosice a few weeks ago for some training and have been around the town twice. I have done lots of purple pen. I also ran a sprint event on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh before coming out that simulated this reasonably well. You have to be ready for the concept of a sprint. I am fairly happy as this is one of my better sprint positions. If it had been more technical I could have pulled a few more places but I'm happy."

Jamie Stevenson coming into the last control

Charlotte Watson finished in 39th place for the top British spot in the women's event. She said "I am kind of happy. I ran a good race without mistakes. This was a runners course but it has set me up well for the long tomorrow and that is more of a focus for me. I am disappointed not to be as high up as I was last year but orienteering has been more of a focus for me lately rather than speed. I think it will be completely different tomorrow, a different challenge and diffierent results - it should be fun!

Tomorrow sees the team tackle the long course 70km south west of Kosice with Duncan starting first at 0907hrs.

Full results can be found here.