Although going into the race with hopes of notable performances, a very technical and physical middle distance final saw the three NZL runners, Lizzie Ingham, Matt Ogden and Tim Robertson well down the field. However, they were not the only athletes to suffer in the rocky, green and steep terrain with temperatures in the high 20’s, as mistakes abounded. In fact only 1 man and 2 women managed to record times under 40 minutes.

Lizzie confessed to never feeling physically comfortable with mistakes at controls 6 and 7, following a waver on control 1. She finished in 42nd place, well down on her own expectations. Matt and Tim also had problems finishing 40th and 42nd respectively.

The women’s race was won by Tove Alexandersson who was the penultimate starter and caught silver medallist Natalia Gemperle by the first radio control after which the two were never more that about 20 seconds apart. One major casualty was long distance winner Simona Aebersold who made a large mistake at control 15 and finished 13th. The men’s race went to the long distance silver medallist Matthias Kuburz, with another Swiss, Joey Hadorn in 2nd.

Men: 1. Matthias Kyburz (SUI) 38:19, 2. Joey Hadorn (SUI) 40:19, 3. Jannis Bonek (AUT) 40:26. 40. Matt 51:47, 42. Tim 53:11.

Women: 1. Tove A;exandersson (SWE) 37:26, 2. Natalia Gemperle (SUI) 39:44, 3. Hanna Lundberg (SWE) 40:00, 42. Lizzie 56:58.