World of O News
August Mollén secured his first international championship title with a smart route choice in the final meters, leading a Swedish 1-2 ahead of Jonatan Gustafsson, while Cécile Calandry claimed her first major title in the women’s race at the European Championships Knock-Out Sprint in Geel, Belgium.
The Market Square in Geel provided the arena for Friday’s knock-out sprint, with urban courses mixing technical city center navigation with longer route choice legs through residential areas and parks. Artificial barriers created additional challenges.
The runners were mostly just following each other – not testing out the orienteering challenges the course setter had made for them. Only in the approach to the final controls – and mostly in the finals – some runners took risks and different route choices which made the race exciting. Urban first-to-finish races without any forking or runners choice do not seem to be the best spectator- and viewer sport, unfortunately.
Swedish 1-2 in men’s final
In the men’s final, world sprint champion Martin Regborn led for much of the race, but the decisive moment came on the route choice to the penultimate control. August Mollén chose the southern route while most of the field went elsewhere.
“I had checked the finish approach and was determined about what I would do. I realized I had a gap and that feeling is hard to beat,” said Mollén after his victory, according to the Swedish Orienteering Federation coverage.
Mollén’s route choice proved fastest, giving him the lead he held to the finish. Jonatan Gustafsson secured silver ahead of Finland’s Akseli Ruohola in a close sprint for second place.
“It feels so good. The mistake at the end when I went left was a bit slow. I had checked to the last control so didn’t quite make it, but I’m satisfied with silver. Of course, I’ve been on the podium a lot so I want that gold too, but it’s crazy to be here again,” Gustafsson commented.
Ruohola, competing in his first KO sprint championship final, was pleased with his bronze medal performance. “The start went quite slowly and we watched each other, but the end was already running. In the curves you always had to be really active and make sure no one got past, and possibly take positions there. I had made plans for the last legs already in advance,” he told the Finnish Orienteering Federation.
The rain conditions added extra challenges to the high-speed final. “The end came through a small alley, where you just had to keep that position and run full speed. It was quite exciting coming to that last control, when the ground was quite wavy, and you don’t know how slippery it is. The speed almost stopped at that control,” Ruohola added.
Historic French gold for Calandry
The women’s race remained together until the final loop, where France’s Cécile Calandry made better route choices to both the ninth and final controls to take the lead from Switzerland’s Simona Aebersold. Calandry’s victory marked France’s first women’s gold at an international championships.
Norway’s Pia Young Vik secured her first individual international medal with silver. “This was incredibly fun. I felt strong all the way, and in the heats I had good control,” she told the Norwegian Orienteering Federation.
Aebersold held on for a somewhat disappointing bronze, despite navigation errors in the closing stages. “The physical form is right, but technically I gave it away in the final. I had good chances for victory and am therefore disappointed that I gave away this opportunity with several mistakes,” Aebersold reflected, according to Swiss Orienteering.
Finland’s Elli Punto finished a strong 4th, just three seconds from a medal in her first major championship final. The junior runner made history as the highest-placed Finnish woman in KO sprint at championship level.
“At the beginning I noticed that the top women started pulling really hard, and I couldn’t quite respond and fell a bit behind. I just tried to read the map,” Punto told the Finnish Federation. “But then I got back into the fight. But my fitness wasn’t quite enough for the finish. It was quite heavy, but it was cool to run in the final. Quite unbelievable. I wouldn’t have believed yesterday, when I just barely got here to the heats, that such a day would come.”
Semifinal incidents affect final composition
The semifinals featured drama in the men’s second heat where a collision between Sweden’s Isac von Krusenstierna and Finland’s Akseli Ruohola led to both finishing last. After referee review, von Krusenstierna was disqualified while Ruohola was awarded a place in a seven-man final, where he won bronze.
Several favorites were eliminated in the semifinals due to navigation errors, including Sweden’s Sanna Fast who was leading when she ran past barrier markings and lost time returning.
The championships continue Sunday with the individual sprint in Lier.
See below for splitsbrowser for all the semifinals.
Maps and GPS-tracking
GPS-tracking:
- Knock Out Final Men, Knock Out Final Women
- Knock Out Semi Final Men, Knock Out Semi Final Women
- Knock Out Quarter Final Men, Knock Out Quarter Final Women
- Knock Out Qualifier Men Heat 1, Knock Out Qualifier Men Heat 2, Knock Out Qualifier Men Heat 3
- Knock Out Qualifier Women Heat 1, Knock Out Qualifier Women Heat 2, Knock Out Qualifier Women Heat 3
See the maps and courses below:
Results
Women Final
2 280 m, 6 starting competitors
| Plac | Name | Organisation | Time | Diff | Km time | FH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cecile Calandry | 8:07.20 | 3:33 | |||
| 2 | Pia Young Vik | 8:09.90 | +0:02.70 | 3:34 | ||
| 3 | Simona Aebersold | 8:14.60 | +0:07.40 | 3:36 | ||
| 4 | Elli Punto | 8:17.80 | +0:10.60 | 3:38 | ||
| 5 | Natalia Gemperle | 8:19.20 | +0:12.00 | 3:38 | ||
| 6 | Alva Sonesson | 8:30.70 | +0:23.50 | 3:43 |
Men Final
2 280 m, 7 starting competitors
| Plac | Name | Organisation | Time | Diff | Km time | FH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | August Mollen | 7:42.80 | 3:22 | |||
| 2 | Jonatan Gustafsson | 7:45.40 | +0:02.60 | 3:24 | ||
| 3 | Akseli Ruohola | 7:45.50 | +0:02.70 | 3:24 | ||
| 4 | Tomas Krivda | 7:46.50 | +0:03.70 | 3:24 | ||
| 5 | Timo Suter | 7:48.00 | +0:05.20 | 3:25 | ||
| 6 | Axel Granqvist | 7:52.00 | +0:09.19 | 3:27 | ||
| 7 | Martin Regborn | 7:56.00 | +0:13.20 | 3:28 |
Women Semi-final 1
2 030 m, 6 starting competitors
| Plac | Name | Organisation | Time | Diff | Km time | FH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Simona Aebersold | 7:31.80 | 3:42 | A | ||
| 2 | Pia Young Vik | 7:32.30 | +0:00.50 | 3:42 | A | |
| 3 | Maelle Beauvir | 7:34.20 | +0:02.40 | 3:43 | ||
| 4 | Vilma von Krusenstierna | 7:42.00 | +0:10.19 | 3:47 | ||
| 5 | Hedvig Valbjorn Gydesen | 7:45.60 | +0:13.80 | 3:49 | ||
| 6 | Anni Jantunen | 7:51.90 | +0:20.10 | 3:52 |
Women Semi-final 2
2 030 m, 6 starting competitors
| Plac | Name | Organisation | Time | Diff | Km time | FH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Natalia Gemperle | 7:55.40 | 3:54 | A | ||
| 2 | Cecile Calandry | 7:55.70 | +0:00.30 | 3:54 | A | |
| 3 | Eef van Dongen | 7:56.10 | +0:00.70 | 3:54 | ||
| 4 | Tereza Rauturier | 7:56.50 | +0:01.10 | 3:54 | ||
| 5 | Victoria Haestad Bjornstad | 7:58.40 | +0:03.00 | 3:55 | ||
| 6 | Rita Maramarosi | 7:59.10 | +0:03.70 | 3:56 |
Women Semi-final 3
2 030 m, 6 starting competitors
| Plac | Name | Organisation | Time | Diff | Km time | FH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alva Sonesson | 7:50.00 | 3:51 | A | ||
| 2 | Elli Punto | 7:50.50 | +0:00.50 | 3:51 | A | |
| 3 | Malin Agervig Kristiansson | 7:50.90 | +0:00.90 | 3:51 | ||
| 4 | Ida Agervig Kristiansson | 7:56.10 | +0:06.10 | 3:54 | ||
| 5 | Sanna Fast | 7:57.80 | +0:07.80 | 3:55 | ||
| 6 | Boglarka Czako | 7:58.20 | +0:08.19 | 3:55 |
Men Semi-final 1
2 030 m, 6 starting competitors
| Plac | Name | Organisation | Time | Diff | Km time | FH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | August Mollen | 7:26.70 | 3:40 | A | ||
| 2 | Axel Granqvist | 7:27.50 | +0:00.80 | 3:40 | A | |
| 3 | Anselm Reichenbach | 7:28.00 | +0:01.30 | 3:40 | ||
| 4 | Tuomas Heikkila | 7:29.30 | +0:02.60 | 3:41 | ||
| 5 | Freddie Carcas | 7:33.60 | +0:06.90 | 3:43 | ||
| Riccardo Rancan | did not finish |
Men Semi-final 2
2 030 m, 6 starting competitors
| Plac | Name | Organisation | Time | Diff | Km time | FH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jonatan Gustafsson | 7:11.30 | 3:32 | A | ||
| 2 | Tomas Krivda | 7:12.40 | +0:01.10 | 3:33 | A | |
| 3 | Mathias Barros Vallet | 7:12.80 | +0:01.50 | 3:33 | ||
| 4 | Alfred Bjoerneroed | 7:15.40 | +0:04.09 | 3:34 | ||
| 5 | Akseli Ruohola | 7:53.30 | +0:42.00 | 3:53 | ||
| Isac von Krusenstierna | disqualified |
Men Semi-final 3
2 030 m, 6 starting competitors
| Plac | Name | Organisation | Time | Diff | Km time | FH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Martin Regborn | 6:59.80 | 3:26 | A | ||
| 2 | Timo Suter | 7:00.00 | +0:00.20 | 3:26 | A | |
| 3 | Yannick Michiels | 7:01.90 | +0:02.10 | 3:27 | ||
| 4 | Guilhem Verove | 7:03.20 | +0:03.40 | 3:28 | ||
| 5 | Fabian Aebersold | 7:03.30 | +0:03.50 | 3:28 | ||
| 6 | Max Peter Bejmer | 7:05.10 | +0:05.30 | 3:29 |
Women QF1
2 160 m, 6 starting competitors
| Plac | Name | Organisation | Time | Diff | Km time | FH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Simona Aebersold | 8:04.10 | 3:44 | A | ||
| 2 | Vilma von Krusenstierna | 8:05.20 | +0:01.10 | 3:44 | A | |
| 3 | Anni Jantunen | 8:05.40 | +0:01.30 | 3:44 | A | |
| 4 | Grace Molloy | 8:10.00 | +0:05.90 | 3:46 | ||
| 5 | Maija Sianoja | 8:15.40 | +0:11.30 | 3:49 | ||
| 6 | Ingrid Lundanes | 8:24.30 | +0:20.20 | 3:53 |
Women QF2
2 160 m, 6 starting competitors
| Plac | Name | Organisation | Time | Diff | Km time | FH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pia Young Vik | 7:59.20 | 3:41 | A | ||
| 2 | Maelle Beauvir | 7:59.90 | +0:00.70 | 3:42 | A | |
| 3 | Hedvig Valbjorn Gydesen | 8:00.00 | +0:00.80 | 3:42 | A | |
| 4 | Eline Gemperle | 8:08.30 | +0:09.10 | 3:46 | ||
| 5 | Jana Peterova | 8:09.00 | +0:09.80 | 3:46 | ||
| 6 | Aleksandra Hornik | 8:18.60 | +0:19.39 | 3:50 |
Women QF3
2 160 m, 6 starting competitors
| Plac | Name | Organisation | Time | Diff | Km time | FH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cecile Calandry | 8:01.60 | 3:42 | A | ||
| 2 | Tereza Rauturier | 8:01.90 | +0:00.30 | 3:43 | A | |
| 3 | Victoria Haestad Bjornstad | 8:03.40 | +0:01.80 | 3:43 | A | |
| 4 | Hanne Hilo | 8:05.30 | +0:03.70 | 3:44 | ||
| 5 | Gjendine Gjelstad Rebard | 8:06.70 | +0:05.09 | 3:45 | ||
| 6 | Elsa Sonesson | 8:10.30 | +0:08.69 | 3:46 |
Women QF4
2 160 m, 6 starting competitors
| Plac | Name | Organisation | Time | Diff | Km time | FH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Natalia Gemperle | 7:50.60 | 3:37 | A | ||
| 2 | Eef van Dongen | 7:50.70 | +0:00.10 | 3:37 | A | |
| 3 | Rita Maramarosi | 7:52.50 | +0:01.90 | 3:38 | A | |
| 4 | Ana Isabel Toledo | 8:00.50 | +0:09.90 | 3:42 | ||
| 5 | Cecilie Andersen | 8:06.40 | +0:15.80 | 3:45 | ||
| 6 | Emma Louise Arnesen | 8:11.50 | +0:20.90 | 3:47 |
Women QF5
2 160 m, 6 starting competitors
| Plac | Name | Organisation | Time | Diff | Km time | FH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malin Agervig Kristiansson | 8:14.50 | 3:48 | A | ||
| 2 | Alva Sonesson | 8:14.80 | +0:00.30 | 3:49 | A | |
| 3 | Elli Punto | 8:16.10 | +0:01.60 | 3:49 | A | |
| 4 | Inka Nurminen | 8:22.80 | +0:08.30 | 3:52 | ||
| 5 | Maria Prieto | 8:30.30 | +0:15.80 | 3:56 | ||
| 6 | Olena Babych | 8:32.29 | +0:17.80 | 3:57 |
Women QF6
2 160 m, 7 starting competitors
| Plac | Name | Organisation | Time | Diff | Km time | FH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sanna Fast | 7:36.70 | 3:31 | A | ||
| 2 | Ida Agervig Kristiansson | 7:47.30 | +0:10.60 | 3:36 | A | |
| 3 | Boglarka Czako | 7:49.80 | +0:13.10 | 3:37 | A | |
| 4 | Ane Dyrkorn | 7:57.30 | +0:20.60 | 3:40 | ||
| 5 | Florence Hanauer | 7:58.60 | +0:21.90 | 3:41 | ||
| 6 | Veera Klemettinen | 7:58.70 | +0:22.00 | 3:41 | ||
| 7 | Ylvi Kastner | 8:04.30 | +0:27.60 | 3:44 |
Men QF1
2 160 m, 6 starting competitors
| Plac | Name | Organisation | Time | Diff | Km time | FH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anselm Reichenbach | 6:54.50 | 3:11 | A | ||
| 2 | August Mollen | 6:55.80 | +0:01.30 | 3:12 | A | |
| 3 | Riccardo Rancan | 6:56.70 | +0:02.20 | 3:12 | A | |
| 4 | Ralph Street | 6:58.10 | +0:03.60 | 3:13 | ||
| 5 | Martin Roudny | 7:03.00 | +0:08.50 | 3:15 | ||
| 6 | Kasper Harlem Fosser | 7:06.60 | +0:12.10 | 3:17 |
Men QF2
2 160 m, 7 starting competitors
| Plac | Name | Organisation | Time | Diff | Km time | FH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tuomas Heikkila | 6:36.10 | 3:03 | A | ||
| 2 | Axel Granqvist | 6:37.50 | +0:01.40 | 3:04 | A | |
| 3 | Freddie Carcas | 6:38.20 | +0:02.10 | 3:04 | A | |
| 4 | Adrien Delenne | 6:40.50 | +0:04.40 | 3:05 | ||
| 5 | Lukas Novak | 6:44.70 | +0:08.60 | 3:07 | ||
| 6 | Jakub Glonek | 6:45.50 | +0:09.40 | 3:07 | ||
| 7 | Uldis Upitis | 6:46.30 | +0:10.19 | 3:08 |
Men QF3
2 160 m, 6 starting competitors
| Plac | Name | Organisation | Time | Diff | Km time | FH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mathias Barros Vallet | 7:04.50 | 3:16 | A | ||
| 2 | Tomas Krivda | 7:05.20 | +0:00.70 | 3:16 | A | |
| 3 | Isac von Krusenstierna | 7:05.80 | +0:01.30 | 3:17 | A | |
| 4 | Ricardo Esteves Ferreira | 7:08.10 | +0:03.60 | 3:18 | ||
| 5 | Tino Polsini | 7:09.30 | +0:04.80 | 3:18 | ||
| 6 | Mats Eidsmo | 7:28.60 | +0:24.10 | 3:27 |
Men QF4
2 160 m, 6 starting competitors
| Plac | Name | Organisation | Time | Diff | Km time | FH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Akseli Ruohola | 7:16.90 | 3:22 | A | ||
| 2 | Jonatan Gustafsson | 7:17.20 | +0:00.30 | 3:22 | A | |
| 3 | Alfred Bjoerneroed | 7:17.30 | +0:00.40 | 3:22 | A | |
| 4 | Daniel Vandas | 7:19.80 | +0:02.90 | 3:23 | ||
| 5 | Florian Attinger | 7:24.40 | +0:07.50 | 3:25 | ||
| 6 | Alvaro Casado | 7:35.80 | +0:18.89 | 3:31 |
Men QF5
2 160 m, 6 starting competitors
| Plac | Name | Organisation | Time | Diff | Km time | FH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Timo Suter | 6:51.60 | 3:10 | A | ||
| 2 | Guilhem Verove | 6:51.80 | +0:00.20 | 3:10 | A | |
| 3 | Max Peter Bejmer | 6:52.60 | +0:01.00 | 3:11 | A | |
| 4 | Teemu Oksanen | 6:55.30 | +0:03.70 | 3:12 | ||
| 5 | Eirik Langedal Breivik | 7:02.30 | +0:10.70 | 3:15 | ||
| 6 | Elias Hinge Krogsgaard | 7:03.70 | +0:12.10 | 3:16 |
Men QF6
2 160 m, 7 starting competitors
| Plac | Name | Organisation | Time | Diff | Km time | FH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yannick Michiels | 7:03.10 | 3:15 | A | ||
| 2 | Fabian Aebersold | 7:03.30 | +0:00.20 | 3:15 | A | |
| 3 | Martin Regborn | 7:04.10 | +0:01.00 | 3:16 | A | |
| 4 | Jurgen Joonas | 7:05.40 | +0:02.29 | 3:16 | ||
| 5 | Henry McNulty | 7:09.70 | +0:06.60 | 3:18 | ||
| 6 | Isak Jonsson | 7:10.80 | +0:07.70 | 3:19 | ||
| 7 | Santeri Kirjavainen | 7:12.40 | +0:09.30 | 3:20 |
Men Total
2 030 m, 141 starting competitors
| Plac | Name | Organisation | Time | Diff | Km time | FH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | August Mollen | 7:42.00 | 3:47 | |||
| 2 | Jonatan Gustafsson | 7:45.00 | 3:49 | |||
| 3 | Akseli Ruohola | 7:45.00 | 3:49 | |||
| 4 | Tomas Krivda | 7:46.00 | 3:49 | |||
| 5 | Timo Suter | 7:48.00 | 3:50 | |||
| 6 | Axel Granqvist | 7:52.00 | 3:52 | |||
| 6 | Martin Regborn | 7:56.00 | 3:54 | |||
| 8 | Anselm Reichenbach | 7:28.00 | 3:40 | |||
| 8 | Mathias Barros Vallet | 7:12.00 | 3:32 | |||
| 8 | Yannick Michiels | 7:01.00 | 3:27 | |||
| 11 | Tuomas Heikkila | 7:29.00 | 3:41 | |||
| 12 | Guilhem Verove | 7:03.00 | 3:28 | |||
| 13 | Alfred Bjoerneroed | 7:15.00 | 3:34 | |||
| 14 | Fabian Aebersold | 7:03.00 | 3:28 | |||
| 15 | Freddie Carcas | 7:33.00 | 3:43 | |||
| 16 | Riccardo Rancan | 0:10.00 | 0:04 | |||
| 16 | Isac von Krusenstierna | 7:53.00 | 3:53 | |||
| 16 | Max Peter Bejmer | 7:05.00 | 3:29 | |||
| 19 | Ralph Street | 6:58.00 | 3:25 | |||
| 19 | Adrien Delenne | 6:40.00 | 3:17 | |||
| 19 | Ricardo Esteves Ferreira | 7:08.00 | 3:30 | |||
| 19 | Daniel Vandas | 7:19.00 | 3:36 | |||
| 19 | Teemu Oksanen | 6:55.00 | 3:24 | |||
| 19 | Jurgen Joonas | 7:05.00 | 3:29 |
Women Total
2 030 m, 116 starting competitors
| Plac | Name | Organisation | Time | Diff | Km time | FH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cecile Calandry | 8:07.00 | 3:59 | |||
| 2 | Pia Young Vik | 8:09.00 | 4:00 | |||
| 3 | Simona Aebersold | 8:14.00 | 4:03 | |||
| 4 | Elli Punto | 8:17.00 | 4:04 | |||
| 5 | Natalia Gemperle | 8:19.00 | 4:05 | |||
| 6 | Alva Sonesson | 8:30.00 | 4:11 | |||
| 7 | Malin Agervig Kristiansson | 7:50.00 | 3:51 | |||
| 8 | Maelle Beauvir | 7:34.00 | 3:43 | |||
| 8 | Eef van Dongen | 7:56.00 | 3:54 | |||
| 10 | Vilma von Krusenstierna | 7:42.00 | 3:47 | |||
| 10 | Tereza Rauturier | 7:56.00 | 3:54 | |||
| 10 | Ida Agervig Kristiansson | 7:56.00 | 3:54 | |||
| 13 | Sanna Fast | 7:57.00 | 3:54 | |||
| 14 | Hedvig Valbjorn Gydesen | 7:45.00 | 3:49 | |||
| 14 | Victoria Haestad Bjornstad | 7:58.00 | 3:55 | |||
| 16 | Anni Jantunen | 7:51.00 | 3:52 | |||
| 16 | Rita Maramarosi | 7:59.00 | 3:55 | |||
| 16 | Boglarka Czako | 7:58.00 | 3:55 | |||
| 19 | Grace Molloy | 8:10.00 | 4:01 | |||
| 19 | Eline Gemperle | 8:08.00 | 4:00 | |||
| 19 | Hanne Hilo | 8:05.00 | 3:58 | |||
| 19 | Ana Isabel Toledo | 8:00.00 | 3:56 | |||
| 19 | Inka Nurminen | 8:22.00 | 4:07 | |||
| 19 | Ane Dyrkorn | 7:57.00 | 3:54 |
“Urban first-to-finish races without any forking or runners choice do not seem to be the best spectator- and viewer sport, unfortunately.”
Are we watching the same event? I disagree entirely. Athletes running together is great for spectating. And of course there was quite a bit of route choice – it’s interesting to compare the heats.
It is interesting to watch in the same way as track athletics is interesting, yes. But there wasn’t really much happening in the semifinals and finals until the very end of some of the heats with regards to taking different route choices. Yes, there were interesting route choice options in there prepared by the course setter, but due to the non-forked nature of the race very few tried out any of those route choices (except those who didn’t have a chance to keep up, who just had to try something).