Orienteers around Australia were cheering in the early hours of Wednesday morning as Hanny Allston stormed to victory in the World Sprint Orienteering Championships.
The victory is not only Australia’s first medallist at the World Orienteering Championships, but our first champion at this event. This amazing result follows her gold and silver medals only one month ago at the Junior World Orienteering Championships in Lithuania. Spectators were in awe as she kept her composure and pushed her body to the limit to force the great Simone Niggli-Luder into second place. Fellow Tasmanian Grace Elson finished 39th after losing some time on the long route choice which split many runners and punished those who made the wrong choice.
Dave Shepherd was Australia’s only men’s result after Troy de Haas was disqualified. Dave struggled over the latter stages of the course, unfortunately fading to finish 39th.
Hanny will now re-focus and concentrate her efforts on the long distance race where she will be aiming to repeat her effort of JWOC in winning two medals. The long distance race will begin at 10pm AEST with Anna Sheldon joining Hanny as Australia’s only representatives.
Hanny sprinting to winning ways (Photos thanks to Alternativet)
Those that missed the action last night can listen to Hanny’s post-race interview
(mp3 file; 1.31Mb)
Women’s Sprint Final
| 1. | Hanny Allston | AUS – Tas | 13:13.3 |
| 2 | Simone Niggli-Luder | SUI | 13:19.1 |
| 3. | Kajsa Nilsson | SWE | 13:24.3 |
| 39. | Grace Elson | AUS – Tas | 17:10.6 |
Men’s Sprint Final
| 1. | Emil Wingstedt | SWE | 13:35.3 |
| 2. | Daniel Hubman | SUI | 13:36.3 |
| 3. | Claus Bloch | DEN | 13:37.0 |
| 39. | David Shepherd | AUS – ACT | 15:40.1 |
| Troy de Haas | AUS – VIC | DISQ |
Hanny receives her WOC 2006 sprint gold medal
Orienteering Australia congratulates Hanny Allston, World Champion
Results*
*results no longer available