The 2024 Junior World Orienteering Championships were held in Pilsen, Czech Republic from 30 June – 7 July.
The city of Pilsen is the fourth largest city in Czechia. It lies at the confluence of four rivers with lots of water bodies and forests. It was founded in the 13th century, and thanks to that it has a lot of unique monuments. Pilsen is also known worldwide for sport.
TEAM
The Australian JWOC team consisted of the following:
MEN: Alvin Craig, Callum White, Cooper Horley*, Jamie Woolford, Oskar Mella, Owen Radajewski, Sam Woolford
*Unfortunately, Cooper Horley was unable to compete as he contracted pneumonia.
WOMEN: Erika Enderby, Mikaela Gray, Milla Key, Natalie Miller, Nea Shingler, Zoe Carter
Team Coaches: Warren Key, Brett Weihart, Serena Doyle, Aston Key
SPRINT RELAY – 1 JULY
JWOC 2024 started with a Sprint Relay held in Arena Lochotín, situated in the Lochotin amphitheatre in Pilsen.
The Sprint Relay was a four-member team relay, where the first and last legs must be run by a woman. Each Federation could enter up to 3 teams, which Australia had. The race began with a mass start and forking was used.
Terrain
The predominant part of the terrain consisted of a flat residential area with large buildings and school areas from the 1980s. Dead-end streets with low traffic, parking lots filled with cars, asphalt pavements and lawns. Furthermore a sloping park with an elevation of 30 m. Visibility and runnability were very good.
Surface: 45 % asphalt or other hard surface, 55 % grass.
| Place | Name | Leg 1 Position | Leg 2 Position | Leg 3 Position | Leg 4 Position | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Norway 1 | 13:31 (5) | 13:41 (6) | 13:16 (4) | 13:40 (5) | 54:08 |
| 8 | Australia 1 | 13:51 (9) | 14:01 (12) | 14:35 (27) | 13:49 (7) | 56:16 +2:08 |
| Runner: | Milla Key | Callum White | Alvin Craig | Nea Shingler | ||
| Not competing | Australia 2 | 15:05 (28) | 15:06 (43) | 14:25 (22) | 15:31 (31) | |
| Runner: | Erika Enderby | Owen Radajewski | Sam Woolford | Zoe Carter | ||
| Not competing | Australia 3 | 15:49 (47) | 15:56 (52) | 16:11 (54) | 16:18 (43) | |
| Runner: | Natalie Miller | Oskar Mella | Jamie Woolford | Mikaela Gray |
INDIVIDUAL SPRINT – 2 JULY
Day 2 of JWOC was an individual Sprint in Arena Stříbro, situated at the Baník Stříbro stadium in Stříbro, municipality situated in Tachov district. The individual race had a 1-minute start interval.
Terrain
The predominant part of the terrain was in the city centre. Network of streets and footpaths mainly with a paved or asphalt surface. Furthermore a city park and sports fields. There was a slope with an elevation of up to 40 m. Visibility and runnability were very good.
Surface: 80 % asphalt or other hard surface, 20 % grass.
Men 20 and Women 20 combined results:
| Place | Name | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Callum White | 14:06 | +0:49 |
| 23 | Milla Key | 15:01 | +0:57 |
| 24 | Nea Shingler | 15:03 | +0:59 |
| 25 | Alvin Craig | 14:21 | +1:04 |
| 33 | Zoe Carter | 15:24 | +1:20 |
| 47 | Sam Woolford | 14:49 | +1:32 |
| 59 | Erika Enderby | 16:23 | +2:19 |
| 77 | Natalie Miller | 16:47 | +2:43 |
| 89 | Owen Radajewski | 15:40 | +2:23 |
| 101 | Mikaela Gray | 17:37 | +3:33 |
| 121 | Oskar Mella | 16:22 | +3:05 |
| 123 | Jamie Woolford | 16:26 | +3:09 |
LONG DISTANCE – 3 JULY
Day 3 of JWOC took place in Arena Hůrky on a spacious meadow near Hůrky, municipality situated in Rokycany district. It was an individual race with a 2-minute start interval.
The long distance was very tough and energy sapping running in soft and steep terrain conditions. There were lots of interesting route choice legs.
Terrain
Mostly hilly; little flat terrain. Altitude 430 – 630 m above sea level. Local terrain detail (erosion gullies, remains of mining or military activity). Rocks and stones in places high up on the hills.
Mostly coniferous forest (spruce), in some parts with a larger number of clearings. Visibility and runnability were mostly good. In some places runnability was slowed by thickets, undergrowth or a rocky surface. There were many paths.
| Place | Name | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 42 | Sam Woolford | 1:29:25 | +14:19 |
| 65 | Oskar Mella | 1:34:24 | +19:18 |
| 73 | Nea Shingler | 1:46:04 | +31:16 |
| 79 | Mikaela Gray | 1:49:28 | +34:40 |
| 83 | Callum White | 1:39:13 | +24:07 |
| 84 | Erika Enderby | 1:51:18 | +36:30 |
| 86 | Milla Key | 1:51:40 | +36:52 |
| 87 | Natalie Miller | 1:51:53 | +37:05 |
| 103 | Alvin Craig | 1:45:35 | +30:29 |
| 109 | Owen Radajewski | 1:49:32 | +34:26 |
| 137 | Jamie Woolford | 2:12:29 | +57:23 |
| Did not finish | Zoe Carter |
MIDDLE DISTANCE – 5 JULY
After a well deserved rest day, the team was back to race in the middle distance at Arena Dobříč will be situated on the football field in Dobříč. This was an individual race with a 2-minute start interval.
Terrain
Moderately hilly to flat. Altitude 350 – 500 m above sea level. Local terrain detail (erosion gullies, remains of mining). Mostly coniferous forest (spruce, pine). Visibility and runnability were mostly very good. There were many paths.
| Place | Name | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 37 | Sam Woolford | 29:48 | +4:06 |
| 65 | Erika Enderby | 32:34 | +8:22 |
| 75 | Owen Radajewski | 31:50 | +6:08 |
| 76 | Alvin Craig | 31:57 | +6:15 |
| 79 | Milla Key | 34:12 | +10:00 |
| 96 | Jamie Woolford | 33:18 | +7:36 |
| 97 | Mikaela Gray | 37:13 | +13:01 |
| 117 | Callum White | 34:36 | +8:54 |
| Mispunched | Oskar Mella | ||
| Mispunched | Nea Shingler | ||
| Did not finish | Natalie Miller |
RELAY – 6 JULY
The fifth and final day of JWOC was a men and women relay with 3 legs and a mass start. Forking was used. The race was held again at Arena Dobříč.
Terrain
Moderately hilly to flat. Altitude 350 – 500 m above sea level. Local terrain detail (erosion gullies, remains of mining). Mostly coniferous forest (spruce, pine). Visibility and runnability were mostly very good. There were many paths.
| Women 20 Place | Name | Leg 1 Position | Leg 2 Position | Leg 3 Position | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finland 1 | 34:23 (3) | 33:18 (1) | 33:13 (2) | 1:40:54 |
| 12 | Australia 1 | 38:56 (15) | 39:32 (15) | 40:24 (17) | 1:52:53 +10:47 |
| Runner: | Nea Shingler | Milla Key | Erika Enderby | ||
| Not competing | Australia 2 | 40:49 (27) | 41:35 (22) | 43:48 (28) | |
| Runner: | Mikaela Gray | Justine Hobson | Natalie Miller |
“The most memorable part of the racing for me was running in the forest relay mass start with almost 50 other runners.
The start was very hectic and when we got into the forest it felt like there were people everywhere, especially because the visibility in the pine forest was very high.”
-Mikaela Gray
| Men 20 Place | Name | Leg 1 Position | Leg 2 Position | Leg 3 Position | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Switzerland 1 | 35:36 (6) | 34:40 (2) | 31:50 (1) | 1:42:06 |
| 13 | Australia 1 | 35:38 (7) | 36:33 (13) | 40:42 (28) | 1:52:53 +10:47 |
| Runner: | Sam Woolford | Alvin Craig | Oskar Mella | ||
| Not competing | Australia 2 | 39:35 (33) | 42:07 (30) | 42:12 (30) | |
| Runner: | Owen Radajewski | Callum White | Jamie Woolford |
Well done to all JWOC athletes for their accomplishments and great efforts throughout the week!
The next Junior World Championships will be held in Italy, in Trentino. We hope Australia can send another great group of juniors to compete.
“I would absolutely recommend juniors aim for JWOC. The whole week is super fun with orienteering in cool overseas terrain and a very social atmosphere meeting people from other countries. JWOC 2025 is in Italy so be prepared for great food and great views on top of the orienteering.” – Mikaela Gray
Photos by Petr Háp, Petr Kadeřávek, Eszter Kocsik, Mikayla Enderby
