2010 WUC Orienteering Update: Day 3 of Competitions

 Men’s Gold Medallist Mattias Merz (SUI)

Men’s Middle Distance Podium

BORLANGE – The winners of the final individual middle-distance competitions at the 17^th WUC Orienteering were decided today, July 22nd. The location of the races for the day was the village of Gustafs outside Borlänge. Heavy rainfall disturbed the first half of the races. ‘The rain might cause some ankle injuries, but let’s hope not’, said Dr. José Luis Terreros from the FISU medical committee.

Dr. TerrerosFrom a medical perspective, the championship has been a quiet event. Dr. José Luis Terreros, Head of Medical Services for the week, is happy to say that nothing of interest has happened. ‘So far, so good. The only issues until now have been insect bites and minor scratches.  There have actually been more injuries at the public competitions.’  

The doping controls are also something that are important during any championship, and the World University Orienteering Championship is no exception. ‘We make sure to test top runners and winners but will have to wait for the results 2 or 3 weeks says Dr. Terreros.

Finally, just in time for the absolute top runners and the end of the competition, the weather cleared up. Long-distance champion Mattias Merz once again showed his excellence when he safely collected his second gold medal this week.

‘Another gold is, of course, great’, he said and continued to describe his winning race. ‘I made a one minute-mistake on the 12th control and also missed the last control with some seconds, but the speed was high and it feels good to be on top again. I really like this terrain with many hills and heavy running. There was a technical demanding course, no time to relax. This was really fun’, Merz concluded.

The closest challenger was Sweden’s Patrik Karlsson, followed by Graham Grisham from Great Britain.

The women’s event had another new winner in Radka Brozkova from the Czech Republic. The convincing Czech left her closest competitor, Finland’s Sofia Haajnen, over 1.5 minutes behind. ‘I made a really good race today, just some small mistakes in the beginning. It was a physical race. The terrain is a bit likely to the terrain back home in Czech Republic, at least the green areas with dense vegetation’, said Radka, also bronze medallist of the middle distance in the WUOC 2008 in Estonia.

Friday, the last day of competitions, will offer the thrilling relay races. A lot of action is promised when the World University Orienteering Championship comes to an end.

(Source: Ted Hammerin, OC)

Women’s Gold Medallist Radka Brozkova (CZE)

Women’s Middle Distance Podium

(Photos: OC)

RESULTS DAY 3

Middle Distance