Four different nations claimed the gold medals on the first day of European Youth Orienteering Championships, which take place in Szczecin, Poland this weekend.
Saturday’s long distance tested the athletes’ physical abilities in the hilly terrain, where they also had to show their skills in coping with route planning on at least one long leg.
Mira Werder (SUI) took the biggest margin of victory of the day in W16, 2.32 minutes ahead of Gabija Stankeviciute (LTU), who had compatriot Margarita Dienyte behind her in third place.
The men’s youngest class, M16 was won by Erik Heczko (CZE) who led all the way through 6,7 kilometers and beat Mihaly Csobot (HUN) and Tomasz Rzenca (POL) in the race for top placements.
Freja Hjerne ran home a gold for Sweden in W18, where Janka Mikes (HUN) had a small lead early on but had to settle for silver. Katerina Douskova was more than four minutes slower than Hjerne, but took bronze after a strong finish.
The narrowest victory came in M18, where Norway’s Emil Husebye Aamodt managed to keep James Hammond (GBR) behind him with six seconds. The two were completely equal in the intermediate times after just under 7 kilometers.
Aamodt was accompanied by fellow Norwegian Jonas Fenne Ingierd on the podium in bronze position.
Find results, GPS-tracks and today’s TV-broadcast on IOF LIVE.
Sunday is sprint-day for the EYOC athletes.
The race starts at 15.00 CEST (UTC+2) in central Szczechin and can be followed on IOF LIVE.
Photo: Jakub Kijak – Moonline Media