The first regional FootO-championships of the year took place last week in New Zealand, where the 2024 Oceania Orienteering Championships were held with three sprint disciplines on the program.
It was the first ever sprint Oceania Orienteering Championships with the events designed to prepare the athletes in the best possible way for this summer’s World Orienteering Championships in Edinburgh, Scotland.
All competitions were held on the North Island, with the Knock-Out Sprint and Sprint Relay taking place Sunday and Monday in and around New Plymouth before the Sprint was decided in Auckland on Saturday.
The Kiwis had the best start to the championships, as Lizzie Ingham and Joseph Lynch (both NZL) became the first Oceania champions in Knock-Out Sprint on Sunday.
Emma Bjessmo (SWE) won the women’s final 1 second ahead of Ingham, who as the best Oceanic runner won the championship title and secured a personal start spot in this summer’s World Orienteering Championship KO Sprint qualification in Edinburgh in July.
Swiss athlete Ines Berger was out sprinted by Ingham and took third position ahead of silver medalist Tara Melhuish (AUS) and bronze winner Amelia Horne (NZL).
Joseph Lynch on his way to the KO Sprint win. Photo by Evalin Brautigam.
In the men’s class, Joseph Lynch took a clear victory by 9 seconds with Ewan Shingler and Angus Haines (both AUS) behind him.
The oceanic gold medal gives Lynch a start place in the WOC KO Sprint as well.
Full article on the KO Sprint with map example from New Plymouth here.
On Monday, the Australians took revenge in the sprint relay.
The team, consisting of Nea Shingler, Patrick Jaffe, Brodie Nankervis and Caitlin Young, took the lead from first leg and won by a clear margin of nearly three minutes.
Sunday’s champions Ingham and Lynch featured in the best New Zealand team, which was 17 seconds ahead of another Kiwi team in third position.
Nea Shingler (AUS) and Ines Berger (SUI) lead the field after the sprint relay start. Photo by Karen Woods.
In the individual sprint, Joseph Lynch won his second gold of the championships on Saturday, where he beat compatriot Tim Robertson by just one second.
Aston Key ensured that Australia was also represented on the men’s podium by finishing in third position, further 37 seconds behind.
Emma Bjessmo was once again fastest among the women and after her three Australian juniors completed the Oceanic podium. Nea Shingler (AUS) was crowned Oceanic champion six seconds behind Bjessmo and Erika Enderby and Milla Key occupied the subsequent positions.