The athletes at the 2025 Oceania Orienteering Championships continued their fight for medals in the coastal terrains of New Zealand’s lower North Island on Sunday and Monday.
Compared to Saturday’s hot middle distance, the temperatures were more pleasant on Sunday when the long distance was to be decided in rain.
And like the previous days, it was with a strong New Zealand dominance in the top positions in the elite classes.
Lizzie Ingham (NZL) continued her golden streak in the women’s event and defended her long distance title by finishing 1:24 ahead of compatriot Kaia Joergensen, who won her third silver medal at the championships.
Another Kiwi took the bronze medal – Renee Beveridge, who was 3:09 minutes behind Ingham over the 10.4 kilometers.
Third OOC 2025 gold medal for Lizzie Ingham after Sunday’s long distance. Photo: Joolz Moore
In the men’s event, Zefa Fa’avae (NZL) was the best in the contour detail-packed coastal terrain, just as in the middle distance.
After 15.3 kilometers, the lead was 1:30 to Matt Ogden (NZL), who had led the first half of the course, while Joseph Lynch (NZL) took bronze, 2:39 behind.
All-Kiwi top 3 in the men’s long distance. Photo: Joolz Moore
NZ wins in the relay
And the final day of the OOC, the home favourites from New Zealand again proved to be the strongest.
New Zealand’s women had to do without the three-time Oceanian champion from the previous days, Lizzie Ingham, who was the course setter for Monday’s relay. Nevertheless, the team of Kaia Jorgensen, Renee Beveridge and Lara Molloy ended up winning convincingly.
There was about eight minutes between the Kiwis and the Australian team of Grace Crane, Emily Sorensen and Aislinn Prendergast at the last exchange, but after Lara Molloy ran the fastest time of the day for the hosts on the last leg, the lead had more than doubled by the end.
There was more excitement in the men’s relay, with Australia (Matt Doyle, David Stocks, Brodie Nankervis) more than a minute ahead of their New Zealand rivals on the first leg.
But after Zefa Fa’avae’s first leg, Matt Ogden and Joseph Lynch took over and ran home a comfortable victory with a margin of 8:02 minutes.
Find results, GPS-tracking, split times and gallery here.
The Aussies will have a chance to get revenge when next year’s Oceania Orienteering Championships are held on Australia’s east coast north of Sydney in late January 2026.