Thursday hosted the first race of the Swedish World Cup, a very demanding and challenging Long distance race with Great Britain fielding 12 runners and Ben Mitchell and Laura King making their World Cup debut.
Simona Aebersold, Switzerland, and Kasper Fosser, Norway were strongest in the tough World Cup Long Distance competition in Idre, Sweden.
Swiss runner Simona Aebersold was surprised after her victory as she expected the Swedish athletes to be very strong in the tough terrain of Idre Fjäll. The Swedish athlete Tove Alexandersson was indeed fastest until the very last part of the course, but Alexandersson got tired after the arena passage and after losing time on the last controls she ended up in third place. Meanwhile Simona Aebersold and Andrine Benjaminsen, Norway had a tight battle for the top position and after almost 90 minutes running Aebersold won, only 40 seconds faster than Benjaminsen.
Orienteering World Cup Long Distance – Women Results
1 Simona Aebersold Switzerland 01.28.31
2 Andrine Benjaminsen Norway +0.40
3 Tove Alexandersson Sweden +1.58
4 Hanna Lundberg Sweden +3.52
5 Emma Bjessmo Sweden +8.52
6 Sabine Hauswirth Switzerland +10.37
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33rd Megan Carter- Davies (Great Britain)
34th Catherine Taylor (Great Britain)
37th Grace Molloy (Great Britain)
48th Jo Shepherd (Great Britain)
53rd Cecilie Andersen (Great Britain)
67th Laura King (Great Britain)
In the men’s class the young Norwegian Kasper Fosser won, 1.39 ahead of his teammate Magne Daehli. Swiss Daniel Hubmann was third losing 3.20 to the winner. Fosser had a strong start and had great speed throughout the course. Swedish Gustav Bergman was doing a great race in the beginning of the course, and he was fastest halfway. After some smaller mistakes and time loss he ended up in fourth position.
Orienteering World Cup Long Distance – Men Results
1 Kasper Harlem Fosser Norway 1.39:53
2 Magne Daehli Norway +1:39
3 Daniel Hubmann Switzerland +3.20
4 Gustav Bergman Sweden +4.11
5 Timo Sild Estonia +5.50
6 Matthias Kyburz Switzerland +7.09
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43rd Ralph Street (Great Britain)
47th Hector Haines (Great Britain)
76th Ben Mitchell (Great Britain)
93rd Chris Smithard (Great Britain)
96th Nathan Lawson (Great Britain)
Alastair Thomas - Retired due to Injury
Hector Haines, finishing 47th; described the race as: "Tough terrain, rocky underfoot which was much more than expected. After having one big time loss when I was about 10m from the control and didn't see it, left me frustrated and a little demotivated after that. But a strong back half saw me gain a few places through the field."
Hector added: "The strength of the field showed and many people would be disappointed with their results in this race."
Official results women
Official results men
Split times, maps, live broadcast can be found here.
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Today (Friday 13 August) is a rest day at the international competition.
The World Cup Round 2 at Idre Fjäll in Sweden will then continue tomorrow with the Middle distance race (14 August) and then the Forest Relay on Sunday (15 August).
Photo image credit: IOF