The star-studded Kainuu Orienteering Week kicked off in the sweltering heat at Joutenlampi

Published: 30.06.2024

Photo: Kainuu Orienteering Week 2024 / Sara Kettunen

In the main elite categories, there was fierce competition in the hot conditions. Eetu Savolainen from Ikaalisten Nouseva-Voima won the men's category with a time of 34:58. The race distance for the category was 7 kilometers. National team members from Helsingin Suunnistajat, Topi Syrjäläinen and Olli Ojanaho, finished 49 seconds and 1 minute 16 seconds behind the winner, respectively.

Photo: Kainuu Orienteering Week 2024 / Kyösti Karttunen

In the women's main elite category, Elisa Mattila from Lahden Suunnistajat took the victory. She completed the 5.9-kilometer course in 35:03. Siiri Silvennoinen from Kalevan Rasti came in second, 1 minute and 22 seconds behind the winner. Marika Teini, also from Kalevan Rasti, finished third, 1 minute and 38 seconds behind the winner.

Photo: Kainuu Orienteering Week 2024 / Kyösti Karttunen

Joutenlampi serves as a selection terrain 1.5 months before the European Championships

This year, the Kainuu Orienteering Week serves as selection competitions for the national team heading to the European Championships, with nearly all of Finland's best orienteers participating in the men's and women's elite categories. The European Championships will be held in Hungary in mid-August.

Additionally, the Orienteering Week serves as selection competitions for the World University Championships.

The Finnish Orienteering Federation and the national team head coaches have selected 60 participants each for the men's and women's elite categories.

National team head coach Thierry Gueorgiou states that the selection competitions will be carefully analyzed before selecting the team for the European Championships.

According to Gueorgiou, the orienteers need to be in top shape at Joutenlampi, where the terrain is fast-paced. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining speed throughout the course, noting that a 30-second mistake at Joutenlampi is significant.
— There is constant pressure on the athlete to stay sharp, Gueorgiou explains.

The first day of the Orienteering Week was held in warm weather, and Gueorgiou hopes it continues throughout the week.
— It makes the competition tough, which is expected in Hungary as well.

Event operations went as expected, improvements to return traffic

The event arrangements went as expected on the first day, reports chief of competition Jarmo Kämäräinen. Traffic flowed smoothly overall, despite one bus breaking down. Wait times at the racecourse were up to half an hour.

More attention will be paid to return transportation in the future. According to Kämäräinen, the atmosphere at Joutenlampi was positive, and the high-quality courses have received praise from the orienteers.

The event organizer at Joutenlampi is Kajaanin Suunnistajat. Kajaanin Suunnistajat last organized the Orienteering Week in 2019 at Jormua. In 2012, the Orienteering Week was held at Joutenlampi.

Results:

The complete results can be found from start lists and results website

More information:

Chief of competition: Jarmo Kämäräinen, +358 40 726 8983, kilpailunjohtaja@rastiviikko.fi

Secretary General: Jukka Liuha, +358 44 7679 533, jukka.liuha@rastiviikko.fi 

KOW-office: +358 44 512 3517, info@rastiviikko.fi

Website: www.rastiviikko.fi