A sweet revenge for both Allston and Hubmann – World Games 2009
July 18, 2009 by Anatolijs Tarasovs
4.7 k and 5.6 k long courses on 1:5000 scale map drawn according to the ISSOM standard is a unique, but definitely no less exciting combination for the World class middle distance. No one could match the speed and precision of Daniel Hubmann and Hanny Allston today in this unusual middle (or shall we call it a lengthened sprint?) distance at Chengcing lake. Both second yesterday, one so close, the other a bit more behind, pushed it all the way to the gold this time, leaving less shiny medals to the others.
A shift in the top
Hanny Allston is definitely back – back to the very top of orienteering elite. By more than a minute ahead of Minna Kauppi of Finland she took the victory in today’s middle distance. With Minna making several mistakes during the race, Hanny left her no chances for another gold and the ‘hat-trick’. Now, Australia has two medals in its account of the World Games 2009, both brought by this super fast and super talented Tasmanian girl. The last individual medal went to the Swede Linnea Gustafsson, who completed the course only 5 seconds ahead of Signe Soes of Denmark.
Last year, at the World Championships in Czech Republic, after ‘disastrous’ 7th place in the long distance final Minna wrote on her website that „In addition, I noticed that I had left my spirits and brains on our table”, if that was the case also today, then let’s wait until tomorrow and see if she manages to remember to take them with for the relay as she did it at the WOC relay last year.
Results
1. Johanna Allston AUS 27:01,0
2. Minna Kauppi FIN 28:17,4
3. Linnea Gustafsson SWE 28:44,4
No one as fast as Daniel this time
Some spectacular controls on the peninsulas of Chengcing lake, a zigzag lake crossing path, a few route-choices and the top speed was all what it takes for a victory. 4 years ago he got the World Games gold in the mixed-relay, but got silver in the middle 21 second behind the winner. Yesterday, he was a mere second behind the individual gold. Today, he left no chances to the others and finally took the individual title. European championships’ gold is the only missing title in Daniel’s collection now. Last year’s European champion from the long distance Dmitry Tsvetkov of Russia took the silver 33 seconds behind the Swiss. Yesterday’s champion Andrey Khramov took the bronze another 35 seconds down.
Results
1. Daniel Hubmann SUI 27:43,4
2. Dmitry Tsvetkov RUS 28:16,6
3. Andrey Khramov RUS 28:51,8
You can check out the map and the courses of today’s race and replay every runner’s route on TracTrac for both men and women. If you weren’t or aren’t there, it will definitely bring you a step closer to the excitment of the ‘World Orienteering Games’.
Tomorrow, the World Games 2009 will end for the orienteers with a mixed-relay held in the same area as today’s middle distance. Which is the strongest and fastest country with women and men combined? Is there a clear favourite? Don’t miss the excitement of the last event – the masstart will be given at 8:00 CET.
