Elza Ķuze wins first Latvian orienteering middle-distance title
At the Latvian orienteering middle-distance championship near Limbaži, Elza Ķuze claimed her first national title in the women's category, while German-born Latvia resident Colin Kolbe won the men's race.
On Saturday, Latvian champions in orienteering's middle distance were determined near Lake Augstroze in the Limbaži region. A total of 662 athletes took part, competing on a newly drawn map created specifically for this year's event by Indulis Peilāns.
Most of Latvia's strongest female orienteers took part in the elite women's race, with the notable exception of junior talent Ilze Jumiķe, who chose instead to compete in the Jelgava night half-marathon that same evening. Over the 5,020-metre course with 130 metres of climb, Elza Ķuze secured a convincing victory, winning her first Latvian championship title in this distance. She finished almost two minutes ahead of multiple champion Sandra Grosberga, denying her a seventh title in the event. Aija Skrastiņa took third place.
Kolbe triumphs among men
In the men's elite race, held without several leading members of the Latvian national team, the title went to Colin Kolbe over the 6,180-metre course with 160 metres of climb. Kolbe, a former world junior sprint champion who now lives and competes in Latvia, took the win. Jēkabs Ločmelis finished second for the second year running after overtaking Edgars Bertuks in the second half of the course. Bertuks, the 2012 world champion in the middle distance, ended up in third place this time.
On Sunday, medals in the relay event will also be awarded as part of the Latvian championships.
