The 2026 Junior World Orienteering Championships got off to a great start on Monday morning when the sprint kicked off the JWOC week in the heart of the host city, Karlskrona.
The temperature had actually dipped compared to the weekend’s heatwave, but it was still a sunny and warm first day of competition at the championships in Sweden.
Home win for Hjerne
Besides the weather, the home crowd had plenty to be happy about as the Swedish junior profile Freja Hjerne started off by taking the title in the women’s class.
Fast split times on some of the longer legs to controls 10 and 12 gave the Swede such a big lead that she could afford to lose a few seconds towards the end and still hold on to the lead.
Queen of the JWOC Sprint: Freja Hjerne – Photos: JWOC 2026
The course took the athletes around central Karlskrona and through several detailed backyards, where they were forced to keep their heads cool so as not to lose time.
Behind the Swede, Leonie Mathis (SUI) had a strong and steady race and came in second place four seconds behind, while the 16-year-old Sara Delić (CRO) surprisingly took bronze. As recently as Friday, the Croatian won the long distance at the European Youth Orienteering Championships in Slovenia and she was also part of the winning relay team the following day.
Bührer is back
In the men’s event, Matthieu Bührer, who won four medals at the JWOC 2024, was back on the top podium. The 20-year-old Swiss, who was injured during last year’s championships, was the strongest today. He took the lead after the long leg to control 10 and at the finish was a full 17 seconds ahead.
Matthieu Bührer crossed the finish line in the fastest time.
Behind him, the two Australians Cooper Horley and Elye Dent shared the silver medal. The two compatriots thus took a big leap forward in the results list, considering they came in 37th and 39th respectively in last year’s JWOC Sprint in Italy.
Last year’s Junior World Champions Jonas Fenne Ingierd (NOR) tied for the fourth place today.
Full results, split times, photos in IOF LIVE
On Tuesday, the championships continue with another urban race, when the sprint relay is run in Karlskrona.
The relay starts at 10:10 and can be followed in the broadcast on IOF TV, which starts 10 minutes before. The local time zone is CEST (UTC +2)
Leading results
Men
1 Matthieu Bührer, SUI 13:56
2 Elye Dent, AUS +0:17
2 Cooper Horley, AUS +0:17
4 Jonas Fenne Ingierd, NOR +0:28
4 Nathan Philibert, FRA +0:28
6 Vladimir Srb, CZE +0:37
Women
1 Freja Hjerne, SWE 14:27
2 Leonie Mathis, SUI +0:04
3 Sara Delić, CRO +0:15
4 Fanny Delahaye, FRA +0:20
5 Anni Jantunen, FIN +0:21
5 Lucie Gaudion, FRA +0:21