Zefa Fa’avae has produced the best result New Zealand has ever had in a JWOC long distance with an amazing 5th place in today’s race in Romania. Zefa was within about 40s of bronze. His run follows the disappointment of the sprint relay dsq, which was so nearly another podium finish to go with Penelope Salmon’s in the sprint. Top NZL women was Rachel Baker in 48th place, although Kaia Joergensen would have been close to the top 30 has she not inadvertently punched one of the men’s controls by mistake.

With these results and some other solid performances this is already the best overall JWOC New Zealand has ever had.

Men: 1. Jakub Chaloupsky (CZE) 1:11:20, 2. Noel Braun (SWE) 1:14:28, 3. Pascal Scherer (SUI) 1:15:12, 4. Matthieu Buehrer (SUI) 1:15:50, 5. Zefa Da;avae 1:15:54, 6. Stanislaw Pachnik (POL) 1:18:42, 57. Felix Hunt 1:31:36, 105, Fergus O’Neill 1:41:11, 132. Riley Croxford 1:57:12, 133. Ryan Moore 1:59:53, 138. Nathan Borton 2:06:36.

Women: 1. Lucie Dittrichova (CZE) 57:28, 2. Henriette Radzikowski (SUI) 57:29, 3. Pia Young Vik (NOR) 58:33, 4. Mathea Gloeersen (NOR) 58:44, 5. Eeva Liina Ojahano (FIN) 59:22, 6. Hanna Sudoi (POL) 1:01:11, 48. Rachel Baker 1:13:56, 50. Katherine Babington 1:14:57, 63. Anna Babington 1:16:41, 66. Penelope Salmon 1:17:02, 84. Zara Stewart 1:23:12, Kaia Joergensen mp.

Photo: Paul Salmon