The 2024 Orienteering World Cup kicked off in Zofingen, Switzerland with athletes from 17 nations competing in the quarter finals. The weather was unpredictable, with sunshine at the start turning into rain halfway through the races. Despite the challenging conditions, runners navigated their way through the courses to secure a spot in the next round.
Switzerland had a strong showing, with 14 out of 16 athletes qualifying for the quarter finals. Norway and Sweden also had a good day, with 12 and 10 athletes respectively making it through to the next round. Standout performances included wins by Tove Alexandersson, Hanna Lundberg, and Ingeborg Rygg Eikeland in the women’s heats, and August Mollén, Tuomas Heikkila, and Timo Suter in the men’s heats.
Unfortunately, not everyone could make it through. Notable athletes like Eef van Dongen, Karolin Ohlsson, and Isac von Krusenstierna missed out on the top 12 spots. The Knock-Out Sprint quarter finals will take place on Saturday in Olten, with the action starting at 10.00 CEST (UTC +2) and can be followed on IOF LIVE. IOF TV will also broadcast the semi-finals starting at 12.00. Stay tuned for more updates from the Orienteering World Cup.
