The Long Distance race proved a success story for IOF World Ranking leaders Tove Alexandersson, Sweden and Andrey Lamov, Russia, both of whom set out their stall for the week with emphatic victories. Especially so Alexandersson, who won by 6.11 on a gruelling course that took her almost 108 minutes to complete.
Tove Alexandersson was fastest throughout the course and led by 2.47 after 7 km of the 20 km course – actually 23.4 km was the shortest practicable distance. After 14 km her lead had extended to 6.20. Her nearest challengers were the Russian Alena Trapeznikova, 6.11 down and her compatriot Mariya Kechkina, 6.47 down at the finish; Kechkina was in fact ahead of Trapeznikova in the middle part of the race.
Men’s podium: Lars Moholdt, Andrey Lamov, Tero Linnainmaa
In the men’s race, Andrey Lamov proved he is back to top form with a win by 2.46 over Norway’s Lars Moholdt. The latter started relatively slowly, being placed fifth after 7 km of the 22.5 (28.8) km course, but after that he pulled through strongly to take the silver medal. He had more than a minute in hand over the bronze medallist, the Finn Tero Linnainmaa, who enjoyed one of his best-ever performances – he is world-ranked number 11.
High-speed action by Tove Alexandersson out on the course
Finland along with Russia got four top-six placings across the two races, an achievement that Finland will be particularly happy about.
Tomorrow it’s the Sprint – well worth watching live and web-streamed for free on orienteering.sport!
Long Distance – leading results
Women
- Tove Alexandersson SWE 1:47:53
- Alena Trapeznikova RUS 1:54:02
- Mariya Kechkina RUS 1:54:40
- Salla Koskala FIN 1:56:03
- Magdalena Olsson SWE 1:56:40
- Marjut Turunen FIN 1:57:02
Men
- Andrey Lamov RUS 1:51:20
- Lars Moholdt NOR 1:54:58
- Tero Linnainmaa FIN 1:56:03
- Sergey Gorlanov RUS 1:56:45
- Tuomas Kotro FIN 1:57:49
- Erik Rost SWE 1:57:56