Megan Carter-Davies runs in at the World Champs 2023 Middle Qualification, photo: Lasse Gron
It was six heats: three for men, three for women, with the first 15 in each to qualify by right (some runners from countries who would otherwise not have representation in the final also qualify.)
As regards the strongest countries it all went much to plan. Very technical terrain and good preparation were perhaps the main reasons.
Links to lots of information about the MIddle Qualification via Orienteering Live
Switzerland, Sweden, Norway and Finland qualified all their runners - that was 28 places booked - 3 per country plus 4 with personal places as reigning World or European Champions in Middle Distance. Austria, Denmark, and France qualified all their six runners. That's more than half the places. Czechia, Latvia, and Poland, qualified 5 runners each. Four of the six British runners qualified for Saturday's final. The other 25 places were spread across 14 countries.
The final startlists have another 15 or so runners in each final from countries who would not otherwise be represented and where at least one runner completed a heat in less than twice the winning time. They run at the start of the finals.
Interviews
We spoke to some of the British athletes after their runs and will post these clips to YouTube.
Interview Alastair Thomas - WOC Middle Qualification
Interview Grace Molloy - WOC Middle Qualification
Interview Ralph Street - WOC Middle Qualification
Interview Megan Carter-Davies - WOC Middle Qualification
Quarantine (no outside contact) - all athletes signed in before the first starts - was just down the hill from here, 3km from the start
The two British athletes who didn't qualify for the final, Joshua Dudley and Cecilie Andersen, were both 20th in their respective heats. They are both also running the long distance race which is tomorrow.
Joshua Dudley at the last control, photo: Andy Kitchin
World of O
The World of O website has as always some maps and detailed analysis.
Start times in Saturday's final are in reverse order of finish position in the heats.
Alastair Thomas after finishing, photo: On The Red Line
Alastair Thomas was 14th in the Men-3 heat. He was only 8 seconds slower than Miika Kirmula of Finland, and his margin over 16th was 20 seconds.
Ralph Street crosses the finish line, photo: On The Red Line
Ralph Street was 9th in the Men-1 heat. He was not the only athlete to run to the wrong Ibex (Capricorn, Goat) at the final control - see his interview above. Some of his friends have perhaps unkindly pointed out that Bulletin-4 does say the fnal control in all races is the wooden one.
Grace Molloy at the last control, photo: Andy Kitchin
Grace Molloy was 8th in the Women-2 heat, just behind the Swede Sanna Fast. This heat was won by the World Champion Tove Alexandersson, with a margin of over two and a half minutes.
Megan Carter-Davies runs to the last control, photo: On The Red Line
Megan had a very quick run to come 3rd in Women Heat-3 behind the European Champion Simona Aebersold of Switzerland and Sarah Hagstrom of Sweden. Megan therefore gets a start position very near the end.