Two gold, one silver and one bronze is the impressive medal tally for Sweden today. Both Hanna Lundberg and Axel Elmblad enjoyed emphatic victories, by 1.42 and 2.13 respectively. Viktor Svensk took silver in the men’s class and Tilda Ostberg bronze in the women’s.
Especially in the women’s class there were other athletes challenging the winners’ times at various stages. In particular, Pia Young Vik from Norway was faster than Hanna Lungberg in the middle section of the race, after Lundberg had made a 1-minute mistake to control 5, but she faded a bit towards the end and finished sixth. Silver medalist Lilly Graber, Switzerland had a slow start, 42nd to control 1, but recovered well from then on.
Julia Krempinska, Poland Photos: JWOC
Elmblad was 15th fastest to the first control, but pulled up to take the lead at control 5 and never looked back, running the fastest on almost all legs and gradually extending his lead. Ferenc Jonas, Hungary took the men’s bronze medal.
Men’s podium
Conditions were excellent for racing, with sunshine and a good breeze, and the courses were well set for finding the best navigators and strongest runners.
Hanna Lundberg, silver medalist in the Sprint, was favourite to win this race, as she has already tasted success at senior level in winning the Middle race in World Cup Round 2 in Sweden in mid-August. She was 7th in the Middle Final in JWOC in Denmark two years ago. Axel Elmblad was bronze medalist in the Sprint earlier this week.
Sunshine and shadow in the forest
Wednesday is a rest day, and competition resumes on Thursday with the Long Distance race.
Podium placings
Women
- Hanna Lundberg SWE 26:25
- Lilly Graber SUI 28:07
- Tilda Ostberg SWE 28:10
- Corina Hueni SUI 28:19
- Viktoria Mag HUN 28:22
- Pia Young Vik NOR 28:27
Men
- Axel Elmblad SWE 25:02
- Viktor Svensk SWE 27:15
- Ferenc Jonas HUN 27:35
- Julien Vuitton FRA 27:40
- Touko Seppä FIN 27:56
- Mark Tutynin RUS 27:59