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JWOC 2024 Results and Recap

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.

PlaceNameLeg 1 PositionLeg 2 PositionLeg 3 PositionLeg 4 PositionTotal
1Norway 113:31 (5)13:41 (6)13:16 (4)13:40 (5)54:08
8Australia 113:51 (9)14:01 (12)14:35 (27)13:49 (7)56:16 +2:08
Runner:Milla KeyCallum WhiteAlvin CraigNea Shingler
Not competingAustralia 215:05 (28)15:06 (43)14:25 (22)15:31 (31)
Runner:Erika EnderbyOwen RadajewskiSam WoolfordZoe Carter
Not competingAustralia 315:49 (47)15:56 (52)16:11 (54)16:18 (43)
Runner: Natalie MillerOskar MellaJamie WoolfordMikaela Gray
Full results for the sprint relay can be found here.

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:

PlaceNameTime
16Callum White14:06+0:49
23Milla Key15:01+0:57
24Nea Shingler15:03+0:59
25Alvin Craig14:21+1:04
33Zoe Carter15:24+1:20
47Sam Woolford14:49+1:32
59Erika Enderby16:23+2:19
77Natalie Miller16:47+2:43
89Owen Radajewski15:40+2:23
101Mikaela Gray17:37+3:33
121Oskar Mella16:22+3:05
123Jamie Woolford16:26+3:09
Full results of the individual sprint can be found here.

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.

PlaceNameTime
42Sam Woolford1:29:25+14:19
65Oskar Mella1:34:24+19:18
73Nea Shingler1:46:04+31:16
79Mikaela Gray1:49:28+34:40
83Callum White1:39:13+24:07
84Erika Enderby1:51:18+36:30
86Milla Key1:51:40+36:52
87Natalie Miller1:51:53+37:05
103Alvin Craig1:45:35+30:29
109Owen Radajewski1:49:32+34:26
137Jamie Woolford2:12:29+57:23
Did not finishZoe Carter
Full results of the individual sprint can be found here.

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.

PlaceNameTime
37Sam Woolford29:48+4:06
65Erika Enderby32:34+8:22
75Owen Radajewski31:50+6:08
76Alvin Craig31:57+6:15
79Milla Key34:12+10:00
96Jamie Woolford33:18+7:36
97Mikaela Gray37:13+13:01
117Callum White34:36+8:54
MispunchedOskar Mella
MispunchedNea Shingler
Did not finishNatalie Miller
Full results of the individual sprint can be found here.

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 PlaceNameLeg 1 PositionLeg 2 PositionLeg 3 PositionTotal
1Finland 134:23 (3)33:18 (1)33:13 (2)1:40:54
12Australia 138:56 (15)39:32 (15)40:24 (17)1:52:53 +10:47
Runner:Nea ShinglerMilla KeyErika Enderby
Not competingAustralia 240:49 (27)41:35 (22)43:48 (28)
Runner:Mikaela GrayJustine Hobson Natalie Miller
Full results for the sprint relay can be found here.

“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 PlaceNameLeg 1 PositionLeg 2 PositionLeg 3 PositionTotal
1Switzerland 135:36 (6)34:40 (2)31:50 (1)1:42:06
13Australia 135:38 (7)36:33 (13)40:42 (28)1:52:53 +10:47
Runner:Sam WoolfordAlvin CraigOskar Mella
Not competingAustralia 239:35 (33)42:07 (30)42:12 (30)
Runner:Owen RadajewskiCallum WhiteJamie Woolford
Full results for the sprint relay can be found here.

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

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