Peter Bray, shortly after the race
It was "phew what a scorcher" conditions for the runners tackling the first World Cup Race of 2019, a middle distance at Tervalampi in Finland's Nuuksio National Park. It was 90 seconds start intervals, and a typically well-mapped Finnish forest, with plenty of boulders and contour detail.
World of O Briefing on World Cup Round 1
The highest placed British runners were Megan Carter-Davies 29th in the women's and Ralph Street 24th in the men's.
Megan on the run-in
Part of the Tervalampi Map
Well-known names took the wins: Tove Alexandersson of Sweden in the morning's women's race, and Gustav Bergman, also of Sweden, in the afternoon men's race. They both had a big margin for a middle race - and nearly all the world's top runners were competing.
Limited Visibility in the Forest - Karolin Ohlsson (4th) leads Marianne Andersen (12th) to a control on a boulder - Photo by IOF/Malin Fuhr
The situation is nicely setup for tomorrow's chasing start long race: a sole leader being chased by some of the top runners, with big groups including British runners just a little further back.
Charlotte Watson @WatsonCharlott finishing today's #owcup middle distance race. pic.twitter.com/kL8bSyT12R
— On The Red Line (@OnTheRedLineO) 8 June 2019
Pretty good run from @HectorHaines although he's a bit disappointed at some small mistakes on slope near the end - as the heat began to take a toll. pic.twitter.com/RGZghcn5ld
— On The Red Line (@OnTheRedLineO) 8 June 2019
Sasha Chepelin
At #owcup @WillJGardner took second place as he finishes today's middle distance. pic.twitter.com/IqetXKcOF9
— On The Red Line (@OnTheRedLineO) 8 June 2019