Tight and Exciting Norwegian Champs in Tricky Slopes

[With maps and animation] On a day were many top runners got into trouble, Bjørn Ekeberg and Mari Fasting won the Norwegian Championships Middle. The decision in the men’s race came in a tricky slope at the very end of the course after a very tight fight between Ekeberg and previous middle distance World Champions Olav Lundanes and Carl Godager Kaas. Mari Fasting decided the women’s class on the last loop in a tight fight against Anne Margrethe Hausken Nordberg.

At the long distance championships on Thursday Olav Lundanes and Mari Fasting took clear victories – although Hausken Nordberg’s 5 minute mistake at the first control was reduced to less than 1:30 up to Fasting at the end of the race.

Men’s middle: Ekeberg decides at third last control

Bjørn Ekeberg (IL Tyrving) won 28 seconds ahead of Carl Godager Kaas (Bækkelagets SK) and Olav Lundanes (Halden SK) in shared second. It was all decided at the tricky third last control were Carl Godager Kaas lost 40 seconds and Olav Lundanes lost 35 seconds. Until this control Ekeberg, Godager Kaas and Lundanes were very close all the way – Lundanes taking better micro route choices while Ekeberg and Godager Kaas had a small edge in the uphills. Only Ekeberg managed to keep his head cool on the very last part though. Lundanes went too low – Godager Kaas to high – Ekeberg hit the control spot on (animation here)!

Stability was key to victory today: Bjørn Ekeberg lost 15 seconds or less to the leg winner on all legs – that was least of all runners in this race.

 

Women’s middle: Mistake for Fasting – but bigger mistake for Hausken Nordberg

The fight for gold in the women’s class was also tight – although here it was only between two athletes: Mari Fasting and Anne Margrethe Hausken Nordberg. After some small insecurities early in the course, Fasting had a half minute lead to Hausken Nordberg after half of the course. Then Hausken Nordberg started getting closer and closer – and finally after a mistake by Fasting when approaching control 12, Hausken Nordberg was in the lead and had the advantage.

The 13th control did however prove to be a difficult one. Early starting Fasting had done half a minute mistake here, and it sure looked like Hausken Nordberg would take this one home. However, Hausken Nordberg’s mistake on the control was a really big one (animation below), and thus Fasting could celebrate her second Norwegian Championships title this week – the first one being on the long distance on Thursday. Kamilla Olaussen finished 3rd – but was never in the fight for gold.

 

 

 

Long distance: Lundanes with clear victory

Olav Lundanes showed again that when his shape is good, he is very difficult to beat on a long distance in tough terrain. Olav Lundanes (Halden SK) won 3:25 minutes ahead of Magne Dæhli (Halden SK) with Jo Forseth Indgaard (Frol IL) in 3rd at 5:35. Olav Lundanes was in the lead all the way from the first control to the end of the race,  won 10 of 23 legs – and  lost 19 seconds or less to the leg winner on all legs – that was least of all runners in this race. Carl Godager Kaas did a big mistake towards the end of the race which cost him a possible medal.

The course did not have many decisive routechoice legs – it was more about execution and running speed. A few of the legs from the course are included here.

 

 

Women’s long: Hausken missed – Fasting won

Mari Fasting (Halden SK) won 1:24 minutes ahead of Anne M Hausken Nordberg (Nydalens SK) with Heidi Østlid Bagstevold (Fredrikstad SK) in 3rd at 4:03. Mari Fasting won 6 of 17 legs while doing several minutes of time losses. The fight for victory was close; Anne M Hausken Nordberg lost 4:45 at leg 1 and finished 1:24 behind in 2nd. Mari Fasting was in the lead all the way from the first control to the end of the race.

Results Norwegian Champs Middle

Men

1.	Bjørn Ekeberg	IL Tyrving	33:52	(+0:00)
2.	Carl Godager Kaas	Bækkelagets SK	34:20	(+0:28)
2.	Olav Lundanes	Halden SK	34:20	(+0:28)
4.	Jon Aukrust Osmoen	NTNUI	35:19	(+1:27)
5.	Yngve Skogstad	Frol IL	35:56	(+2:04)
6.	Martin Vister	Frol IL	36:06	(+2:14)
7.	Gaute Hallan Steiwer	Lillomarka OL	36:09	(+2:17)
8.	Ulf Forseth Indgaard	Frol IL	36:11	(+2:19)
9.	Hans Gunnar Omdal	Kristiansand OK	36:12	(+2:20)
10.	Borger Melsom	Fossum IF	36:34	(+2:42)
11.	Carl Petter Lyngen	Frol IL	37:09	(+3:17)
12.	Håkon Jarvis Westergård	Varegg Fleridrett	37:12	(+3:20)
13.	Vetle Ruud Bråten	Raumar Orientering	37:51	(+3:59)
14.	Jo Forseth Indgaard	Frol IL	37:55	(+4:03)
15.	Sindre Østgulen Deisz	NTNUI	37:58	(+4:06)

Women

1.	Mari Fasting	Halden SK	33:51	(+0:00)
2.	Anne M Hausken Nordberg	Nydalens SK	35:02	(+1:11)
3.	Kamilla Olaussen	Fredrikstad SK	35:40	(+1:49)
4.	Mathilde Rundhaug	Frol IL	36:42	(+2:51)
4.	Hanne Sandstad	Freidig	36:42	(+2:51)
4.	Emma Johansson	Fredrikstad SK	36:42	(+2:51)
7.	Heidi Østlid Bagstevold	Fredrikstad SK	36:48	(+2:57)
8.	Tone Wigemyr	Bækkelagets SK	36:57	(+3:06)
9.	Marianne Andersen	Konnerud IL	37:29	(+3:38)
10.	Maren Jansson Haverstad	NTNUI	37:51	(+4:00)
11.	Ingjerd Myhre	Kongsberg OL	38:15	(+4:24)
12.	Kristine Berglia	Eiker OL	39:20	(+5:29)
12.	Linn Hokholt	NTNUI	39:20	(+5:29)
14.	Silje Ekroll Jahren	Raumar Orientering	39:39	(+5:48)
15.	Marianne Riddervold Kahrs	Fredrikstad SK	40:10	(+6:19)

Results Norwegian Champs Long

Men

1.	Olav Lundanes	Halden SK	91:04	(+0:00)
2.	Magne Dæhli	Halden SK	94:29	(+3:25)
3.	Jo Forseth Indgaard	Frol IL	96:39	(+5:35)
4.	Ulf Forseth Indgaard	Frol IL	97:39	(+6:35)
5.	Yngve Skogstad	Frol IL	98:19	(+7:15)
6.	Eskil Kinneberg	Raumar Orientering	98:44	(+7:40)
7.	Carl Godager Kaas	Bækkelagets SK	99:12	(+8:08)
8.	Morten Jarvis Westergård	Varegg Fleridrett	101:32	(+10:28)
9.	Bjørn Ekeberg	IL Tyrving	103:38	(+12:34)
10.	Jon Aukrust Osmoen	NTNUI	104:00	(+12:56)
11.	Espen Weltzien	IL Tyrving	105:02	(+13:58)
12.	Håvard Lucasen	Ås-NMBU Orientering	105:32	(+14:28)
13.	Audun Weltzien	IL Tyrving	105:39	(+14:35)
14.	Carl Petter Lyngen	Frol IL	106:04	(+15:00)
15.	Eirik Martens Svensen	Kristiansand OK	106:40	(+15:36)

Women

1.	Mari Fasting	Halden SK	64:42	(+0:00)
2.	Anne M Hausken Nordberg	Nydalens SK	66:06	(+1:24)
3.	Heidi Østlid Bagstevold	Fredrikstad SK	68:45	(+4:03)
4.	Hanne Sandstad	Freidig	71:29	(+6:47)
5.	Silje Ekroll Jahren	Raumar Orientering	73:50	(+9:08)
6.	Ingjerd Myhre	Kongsberg OL	73:53	(+9:11)
7.	Tone Wigemyr	Bækkelagets SK	74:07	(+9:25)
8.	Emma Johansson	Fredrikstad SK	74:54	(+10:12)
9.	Maren Jansson Haverstad	NTNUI	75:10	(+10:28)
10.	Eva Jurenikova	Halden SK	75:35	(+10:53)
11.	Gøril Rønning Sund	Frol IL	76:25	(+11:43)
12.	Ida Lindkvist	NTNUI	77:56	(+13:14)
13.	Hanna Haugen Nordbrøden	Halden SK	80:19	(+15:37)
14.	Kine Gulliksen	Bækkelagets SK	80:21	(+15:39)
15.	Anna Ulvensøen	NTNUI	81:22	(+16:40)

Full results:

• Long
• Middle