Three Latvian orienteers finish in top 30 at European Championships long distance
At the European Orienteering Championships in Druskininkai, Lithuania, three Latvian athletes finished in the top 30 in the long distance event. Norway's Kasper Harlem Fosser won the men's gold, while Sweden's Tove Alexandersson took the women's title.
The European Orienteering Championships, which also serve as the final round of this season's World Cup, are underway in Druskininkai, Lithuania. In the long distance event, Latvia's representatives delivered solid results, with three athletes placing among the top 30.
Latvian results
In the men's 17-kilometer race, Rūdolfs Zērnis finished 21st, his best World Cup result since 2022. Zērnis had posted the second-fastest qualification time the day before, and in the final he trailed the winner by just over 10 minutes. Uldis Upītis placed 25th, a minute and 11 seconds behind his teammate, though he was not fully satisfied with his own performance.
In the women's 13.7-kilometer race, Elza Ķuze took 27th place, finishing about 20 minutes behind the winner. Junior athlete Ilze Jumiķe, making her debut in an adult elite-level World Cup long distance event, placed 53rd. Sandra Grosberga, who had also qualified for the A final, chose not to start in order to protect a recently injured ankle.
Winners and other Latvian competitors
In the men's race, Norway's Kasper Harlem Fosser claimed the European title with a time of one hour, 34 minutes and 3 seconds, securing his second consecutive European gold in this discipline while continuing his dominance at world championships as well. In the women's race, Sweden's Tove Alexandersson defended her title, winning by 49 seconds over Switzerland's Simona Aebersold.
Among Latvians who did not reach the A final, Matīss Saulīte posted a strong result, finishing eighth in the B final, which qualifies him to compete for medals in the middle distance on Saturday. Rihards Krūmiņš missed the B final's top ten by just over two minutes, finishing 14th. In the women's B final, Leonarda Baltiņa was the top Latvian finisher in 17th place.
The championships continue on Sunday with middle distance medal competition and will conclude on September 27 with relay races, in which Latvia plans to field three teams in both the men's and women's competitions.
