Mens heat 1 map and courseMens heat 1 map and course
(Photo: NZ Orienteering Federation; click to enlarge)

The excellence continues - six New Zealand orienteers have qualified for the middle distance finals at the Junior World Championships, easily the best ever effort for New Zealand.

Matt Ogden, Toby Scott and Gene Beveridge made it look easy, all finishing in the top 7 of their heats – where the top 20 go through to the final.

Angela Simpson continued her superb week with a comfortable 7th in her heat: "It was fast running in open forest, with a patchwork of green it was essential to keep map contact all the way."

Team-mates Kate Morrison and Jaime Goodwin had to wait nervously for all orienteers to complete their heats, before confirming their finals place, both in 16th.

Australia were the unlucky country, with two missing the cut with 21st placings.

New Zealand has never qualified six – half of the team – to the finals of the Junior World Championships before.

"The New Zealand team did great" added Simpson "We are all excited and will battle our hardest in the final!"

After three races the high fitness levels of the New Zealanders are starting to make an impact and hopes are high for more podium places to accompany Angela Simpson's podium 6th in the sprint race.

The finals will be held today at 8pm NZT (10am Poland).

Toby Scott qualifying in 7th placeToby Scott qualifying in 7th place
(Photo: NZ Orienteering Federation; click to enlarge)

Results: Junior World Orienteering Championships Middle Qualification Race

Men

Heat 1

1 Eskil Kinneberg, Norway 19:47
2 Christoph Prunsche, Germany 20:05
3 Micha³ Olejnik, Poland 20:25
4 Pavel Kubát, Czech Republic 20:28
5 Rafa³ Podziñski , Poland 20:29
6 Yngve Skogstad , Norway 20:40
7 Toby Scott, New Zealand 20:51

Heat 2

1 Andreu Blanes, Spain 20:49
2 Philipp Schiel, Austria 21:14
3 Lucas Basset, France 21:23
4 Jonas Nordström, Sweden 21:29
4 Gene Beveridge, New Zealand 21:29

Heat 3

1 Marius Thrane Odum, Denmark 20:14
2 Kristian Jones,Great Britain 20:44
3 Martin Vister, Norway 20:45
4 Topias Tiainen, Finland 20:54
5 Albin Ridefelt, Sweden 20:56
6 Matt Ogden, New Zealand 21:04

Women

Heat 2

1 Johanna Olsson, Sweden 17:54
2 Helena Karlsson, Sweden 18:12
3 Ita Klingenberg, Denmark 18:52
4 Tereza Novotná, Czech Republic 18:57
5 Maren Jansson Haverstad, Norway 19:29
6 Paulina Faron, Poland 19:46
7 Angela Simpson, New Zealand 19:47
8 Sarina Jenzer, Switzerland 19:49
9 Kerstin Uiboupin, Estonia 20:13
10 Anna Nilsson - Simkovics, Austria 20:20
11 Natalia Chepaeva, Russia 20:21
12 Sari Anttonen, Finland 20:29
13 Emily Kemp, Canada 20:44
14 Camilla Sogaard, Denmark 20:46
15 Henna Haikonen,Finland 21:06
16 Jaime Goodwin,New Zealand 21:14

Heat 3

1 Tove Alexandersson, Sweden 19:01
2 Mairead Rocke, Great Britain 19:10
3 Julia Blomquist, Great Britain 19:24
4 Julia Gross, Switzerland 19:49
5 Emma Klingenberg, Denmark 20:07
6 Anna Segersson, Sweden 20:16
7 Therese Haare, Norway 20:26
8 Adéla Indráková, Czech Republic 20:34
9 Mira Kaskinen, Finland 20:39
10 Olena Fedorova, Ukraine 20:49
11 Julia Bauer, Austria 21:13
12 Stine Bagger Hagner, Denmark 21:21
13 Carlotta Scalet, Italy 21:24
14 Andra Cecilia Anghel, Romania 21:28
15 Marion Aebi, Switzerland 21:55
16 Kate Morrison, New Zealand 21:57