|
Orienteering Superseries: Prospects for 2004
|
|
| Series Manager,
MAPsport Services, 5 Atahu Gr, Lower Hutt, NZ Ph (04) 566 2645 |
Going into Round 4, as at 25 Mar 04
As would be expected for the national championship there is a full turnout
for Round 4 of the Superseries at Easter. But the departure of both series
favourites for Europe shortly afterwards means that the performance of both
the second-favoured runners is vital as they could position themselves to
catch up in the last two events at Queens Birthday. They would be even better
placed if they could pull off one or more wins at Easter - something that is
entirely possible.
The favourites are of course Carsten Jorgensen and Rachel Smith.
Jorgensen, who placed fourth in the last World Long-distance Championship,
has a buffer of 24 points over Chris Forne. If Jorgensen won the
three events at Easter, Forne would have to average better than second place at both
Easter and QB to capitalise on the Dane's absence. That's a tall order but its do-able;
and the Canterbury PhD student has in fact beaten the Dane twice already this series.
He has won another national championship already this year albeit not attended by
Jorgensen: the Green Coast 24hr Rogaining Championship!
Though he can't reach the top, Neil Kerrison in third place is
continuing the good form he brought back from his 2003 overseas trip.
Mark Lawson, Karl Dravitzki and Alistair Cory-Wright form the next echelon.
Top performances by any of these will hurt Forne more than Jorgensen
As would Rob Jessop who won both the long and middle championships last year.
Jessop in fact won the series last time, but hasn't appeared in the 2004 series
at all yet. However he has achieved a personal milestone with the completion of a
PhD degree.
The womens competition is in a similar shape. Technically Marquita Gelderman is ahead
but after discarding the worst two results Rachel Smith who has won every race since #3
is the leader. Even if multiple NZ champions Tania Robinson and Penny Kane take major
placings, Smith is bound to move ahead of Gelderman before heading off to Sweden to further
her orienteering career. This will leave Gelderman a score to chase at QB, rather like a
cricket match, with the other players capable of getting in the way as they chase their
own scores.
Besides Robinson and Kane, Jenni Adams, Rebecca Smith and Claire Paterson
may influence Gelderman's chances. At stake is Smith's third straight Superseries win!
And although not doing the long distance race, 17-year-old Amber Morrison gave
everyone a shock at February's Dune Tune with an outstanding win.
The one result that is certain is the team competition. Bivouac Southerly Storm
was first to select a team name, first with a team o-suit, now has a sponsor and distributes
a team bulletin to its member clubs to engender support. With almost twice the score of the
other teams already it is a certain winner.
Northern Knights has a slender 7-point lead over Central Raiders. Although the Raiders may
be able to hold their own in the mens class, it has only the two juniors Paterson and Morrison
to contest the women. Morrison is entered only for the sprint and middle and has some injury
problems, so they will be no match for Gelderman, Robinson and Rebecca Smith. It's going to
be a repeat of 2003: Knights second, Raiders third.
Until next time, when Bivouac/Southerly Storm will have to do without Jorgensen, Smith and Adams...