World University Championship Russia

Feb 21, 2016

A historically very first WUSOC took place in Russia, Tula region. Oganizers prepared a very high-level ski-o event. It was very professinal in all directions!

A first race was sprint: I've got a pain in my belly in the morning. But Ibalgin saved me and I felt OK before the start. As I knew there is a chasing start next day based on the sprint results I didn't want to risk too much and do a secure performance. I didn't do any bigger mistake and ended 1,5min behind the first. I was very satisfie but my 13th place felt just OK. I think I was just too defensive.

Next day my tactic was very different. I wanted to be offensive and attack my TOP10 goal. I made a very good race with only one mistake at the end. Nobody knew what was my position. After a neverending waiting I saw my name on 10th position!!!!!! Yoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo :)

Next day was a rest day so we decided to go for an excurison to the city. We visited the Tula State Museum of Weapons and a comlex with the Holy assumption cathedral. It was a really interesting excursion.

Next day was a sprint relay day. I got nominated for the Czech 1 team with Jakub Škoda. We aimed to be TOP6 but I was ready to fight for medals. We were on the third position after four legs. Unfortunately, Jakub and also me got the longest forking at the last legs. I started on 4th position to the last (6th) leg. Not far from the 3rd team - Russian. But Russian girl had the shortest loop right now so I dodon't see her at all. Also Bulgarian girl had the shortest loop at her last leg so I had to finnish to secure our 4th position. It was a very cool and exciting race! Jakub did very strong performances on his all three legs. I did "just" well :) But I am really glad to ge an experince from an international event when running the last leg and fighting for the medals! Definitely, I did much better than at WC relay last year and I am happy to see some improvement :)

Last race was a middle distanace mass start. For some reason I didn't feel very well. I started well and was together with best girls but then I got a different longer forking. I handled this own orienteering well but when forkings got together again I was pushing too much to pass slower girls and didn't put enough focus on orienteering. This led to a very stupid mistkae. after that I didn't calm down and tried to catch other girls again. And another huge mistake. After that I tried to improve my o-skills but I've already lost too much time. Moreover, I've missed one control just behind the public control. I realized it behind the last control so I had to go back and go thourgh last three controls again... I was surprised I still finnished 14th because this performance was really bad.

All and all, it was a very successfull event for Czech team. Jakub Škoda managed to take bronze medal (after he figurated on 4th place for two days!!!) in sprint, we were 4th at sprint relay, Jakub took TOP10 places in chasing start and middle and I was TOP10 in a chasing start!