SILVER MEDAL FOR SCOTT
This is a brilliant result for Scott Fraser, one better than the last World University Championships when he won bronze.
Photo credit: Dave Rosen
Scott said after the race that he had nearly a perfect run. He was very pleased that he'd kept it together in the technical section after hearing he was in the lead at the radio control. He added that he lost maybe 5 seconds at a major road crossing where there was some confusion with the officials. Scott was very pleased to win a medal but disappointed it wasn't gold.
The sprint race started in the centre of Borlange and went out through pleasant flat suburbs interspersed with parkland. Then, after a spectator control, the course finished with some very tricky steep hilly terrain by the river.
Alasdair McLeod had a very strong run early on and was pleased to get a top 20 placing by the end. Graham Gristwood had a great first two thirds and had the leading time at the spectator control. But it all went wrong in the technical final part and he even lost a few seconds getting to the last control when he ended up the wrong side of an uncrossable fence. His 12th place was very respectable but he had hoped for better and he will be fired up for tomorrow's Middle Distance race.
Scott Fraser had a minor incident at a major road when an official shouted at him thinking he was going to cross the road when in fact he was correctly heading for the bridge. That cost him a few seconds. Apart from that Scott had a clean run and his physical fitness came to the fore in the hilly last part where he was powering up the steep hills that were leaving other competitors gasping. He was in the lead at the spectator control and said "I knew the last part was going to be tricky and I knew I had to be careful to get it right". He finished in first place but only two minutes later Jerker Lysell from Sweden finished just 8 seconds quicker.
Scott won bronze in the sprint two years ago in Estonia at the World University Championships so he was pleased to improve on that. But there are more medal opportunities for him in Thursday's Middle Distance and Friday's Relay.
Anne Edwards ran hard in the first part of the course but then found the hills tough at the end. Tessa Hill had a good run but made an error near the end which lost her several places. Rebecca Harding had the best British result in the women's race with a steady run in 39th place.
Men 3.3 km
1. Jerker Lysell SWE 13.58.9
2. Scott Fraser GBR 14.07.4
3. Severin Howald SUI 14.25.7
12. Graham Gristwood GBR 15.08.8
19. Alasdair McLeod GBR 15.33.5
85 runners
Women 2.6 km
1. Amelie Chataing FRA 13.30.1
2. Caroline Cejka SUI 13.37.2
3. Michaela Guizzardi ITA 13.55.6
39. Rebecca Harding GBR 15.32.8
49. Tessa Hill GBR 16.06.6
50. Anne Edwards GBR 16.08.4
76 runners
Article by Dave Rosen
Item posted by Gareth Candy |
