JWOC 2006
Gold and Silver for Hanny Allston at Junior World Championships Hilary Wood
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HE Australian Juniors Team this year experienced something no previous team has seen - one of their team-mates winning two medals at a World Championships. They saw the dedication and self-discipline of Hanny Allston pay off in her excellent achievement of the Gold medal in the classic event of the championship with a stunning 4 and half minute win over second place, running the 8.6 km course in 53 minutes and some seconds. JWOC 2006 proved to be a very successful time for the Australian Team. Matt Parton getting a podium 6th place in the Sprint event shows the potential we have in the team. Simon Uppill had a creditable performance and looks good for a better one on his home turf, Dubbo in 2007. Vanessa Round too has added to her JWOC experiences and will also be a worthy contender for the JWOC competition in Dubbo. We had a very interesting training camp experiencing the local quirkiness and quaintness at the Storo Romo (or Fat Romos) guesthouse. This house was full of woodcarvings and the tables and chairs were also carved out of solid wood and iron with a horse motif. One needed to be a weightlifter to move the chairs!! It made for interesting and at times challenging experiences for the team management in negotiating our needs and doing our best to get what the Team needed. Rob Walter and Reuben Smith who made the trip down from Sweden to help out at the training camp again assisted us this year. Simonas Krepsta, an elite orienteer from the Lithuanian team, also befriended our Team and gave some invaluable advice. Hanny’s 2nd place and Matt Parton’s very impressive 6th place in the Sprint set the scene for the week for the Australian Team. It raised the confidence of all Team members and made it easier for them to believe in themselves and their ability to be competitive on the world stage. The results for Team harmony were excellent with all Team members being supportive of one another and encouraging in each other’s efforts and performances. This year we asked the Team members to give us some insights into their experiences of JWOC in an interview with each after the relay race. This day was a little disappointing for the girls’ team but still saw Hanny finish with the fastest time of all on her course for the day. We thought it would be more informative to hear from the Team, their thoughts about JWOC and their orienteering. As a result the following questions were put to each member of the 2006 Australian JWOC Team: 1. Describe the highs for you at JWOC2006 in Lithuania. 2. W hat were some of the low times for you either in the training camp or competition week?
Murray Scown 1. My highs were making the A final in the Middledistance Race. The Relay was really open and fast and I had a good run. 2. My performance in the final of the Middle-distance race. It was a tougher race and I was disappointed with my time. 3. I think if I had my time again I would train a bit harder. 4. My advice is to prepare as best as you can between Easter and JWOC. 5. I’m going to have a break now and in the future train for the Middle-distance race for WOC. 6. Fantastic!!
Kellie Whitfield 1. The team spirit…it’s been pretty good to cheer on the other Team members and see a fellow Team member come first. 2. My personal low has been running bad and making stupid mistakes and knowing I can do it. 3. If I had my time again I would go out with more confidence and pep myself up. 4. My advice to others would be to go out confidently and use the upper hand.
2. I had a couple of lows during the training week as a result of getting used to the terrain and not performing well personally and having to get back up after it. 3. What I’d do differently? I’d get used to having the map in my hand and get the navigation right. 4. My advice would be to get the navigation right before fitness. 5. In the future I’ll do it for fun and run for the ACT team and WOC in the future….maybe. 6. Awesome fun!!!
Hanny Allston 1. The Longdistance race was definitely the highlight for me. Other highlights were getting on with the Team and they’ve become really good friends. 2. Lows for me were feeling exhausted and a bit flat from being in a different culture and my performance in the Middle final was a bit of a low for me. 3. My preparation this year was perfect and the extra week in Kaunas with Simonas really helped my preparation. 4. Definitely got to have good navigation but have to be as fit as you can be too. 5. Pretty obvious! But I’m sure I can reach the top one day at the senior level. I’ve got the speed in the field against other runners but I have to develop mentally and technically.
5. I want to develop my strength and speed and then try out for the WOC team.
6. Awesome!!
6. Fun!!!!
Evan Barr
5. What are your future orienteering aspirations?
Sophie Barker
6. A nd in one word or phrase can you sum up your JWOC 2006 experience?
1. The high for me has been getting to know the Team and my run in the Relay – it’s been my best one for the week.
1. Definitely the first time overseas has been a big high for me. The Relay has been the most fun race and spending 2 weeks
3. W ould you do anything different with your preparation if you had your time again? 4. W hat advice would you give to up and coming juniors for the Australian JWOC Team?
22 THE AUSTRALIAN ORIENTEER OCTOBER 2006
