Miika Kirmula’s final place in Tuesday’s World Championships was not far away, but in the final of her semi-final, the Finn finished fourth as the two best men advanced to the final.
Navigator Miika Kirmulan the top feeling was annoying when the World Cup final place didn’t come in the men’s knockout sprint.
– On the other hand, I am very happy that I was able to compete today, he summed up in the Orienteering Federation’s press release.
Even the day before the race, Kirmula had to consider participating in the entire competition. In Sunday’s sprint message, he crashed violently with a rival and got a painful chest at the time.
– Yesterday I had to go for a running loop and test how much deep breathing hurts. Painkillers helped somewhat. It wasn’t noticed during the race, but at other times, like in the warm-up, it happens all the time, and it always takes energy away from the race itself, Kirmula said.
The best Finn of the day thought he was not “completely awake” in the final of the semi-final.
– In the last long interval, a couple of men passed. After that, it was difficult to pass as the end came along narrow alleys with tight turns. In the final race I got another twenty cents, but it was not enough for the final, Kirmula repeated the final moments of the semi-final.
Kirmula has consulted doctors in her chest in both Denmark and Finland, and the injury will not get worse with competition. Thus, he will also be seen on the final leg of the World Cup in personal sprint on Thursday.
The rapid pace of the Harju qualifier and semi-finals was not enough
The best Finnish woman of the day Venla Harju settled the qualifiers and the semi-finals sovereignly, but in the semi-finals the pace of the competitors accelerated. Last route selection together with Norway Andrine Benjaminsen was slower and the Finn was last in his semifinals.
Four orienteers made it to the joint starting lots from the morning qualifier. In addition to Kirmula and Harju, the semi-finals were seen Akseli Ruohola and Marika Teini. Ruohola was sixth in the semi-finals and Teenager fifth. In the semi-finals, a ranking among the top three would have been needed to continue.
Ida Haapalan and Tuomas Heikkilän race day ended with the morning qualifier.
The final leg of the World Orienteering Championships will be a personal sprint on Thursday in the town of Vejle.