All three Australian women qualified for tonight’s final of the Middle Distance at the World Orienteering Championships, while Julian Dent also qualified in the men’s race.

The standout performer today was Jo Allison, who finished 7th in her heat only 2:16 off the lead. Grace Elson also finished (equal) 7th with a deficit of 3:57, while Vanessa Round had a close shave coming in 14th, 4:16 down. The result caps off a strong week from the women’s team, with 100% qualification from the three individual races — the sort of consistency that raises the prospect of another strong placing in the relay.

In the men’s race, Julian Dent bounced back from his food poisoning on Sunday to finish 10th in heat A, only 2:15 from Thierry Gueorgiou. David Shepherd, running in heat B, raced steadily but mistakes at the 5th and third last control saw him slip away from qualification, 6:05 off the pace. Simon Uppill started well, but lost time in the second half of the course and finished in 23rd, 5:15 down.

For the first time in many years, the qualification and final of the Middle Distance are on the same day, so stay tuned to the WOC online coverage from 11:00pm AEST for all the details.

Results Summary:

Men Heat A:
1. Thierry Gueorgiou, FRA, 25:12
10. Julian Dent, AUS, 27:27

Men Heat B:
1.  Baptiste Rollier, SUI, 27:57
18. David Shepherd, AUS, 34:02

Men Heat C:
1. Mikhail Mamleev, ITA, 25:43
23. Simon Uppill, AUS, 30:56

Women Heat A
1. Lina Persson, SWE, 25:16
14. Vanessa Round, AUS, 29:37

Women Heat B
1. Inga Dambe, LAT, 26:44
=. Helena Jansson, SWE, 26:44
7. Jo Allison, AUS, 29:00

Women Heat C
1. Anne Magrethe Hausken, NOR, 26:12
7. Grace Elson, AUS, 30:09

Womens results
Mens Results