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Engen wins gold for Sweden

Stirnemann, Zakelj round out top three

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Vivienne Meyer (Switzerland) races toward the finish.

Vivienne Meyer (Switzerland) races toward the finish.
(Image credit: Hilton Meyer)
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Ekaterina Anoshina (Russia) is almost done with her race.

Ekaterina Anoshina (Russia) is almost done with her race.
(Image credit: Hilton Meyer)
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Tanja Zakelj (Slovenia) races toward third.

Tanja Zakelj (Slovenia) races toward third.
(Image credit: Hilton Meyer)
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Alexandra Engen (Sweden) on her way toward victory.

Alexandra Engen (Sweden) on her way toward victory.
(Image credit: Hilton Meyer)
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Noga Korem (Israel) is the local favorite.

Noga Korem (Israel) is the local favorite.
(Image credit: Hilton Meyer)
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Lily Matthews (Great Britain) rides toward 8th place.

Lily Matthews (Great Britain) rides toward 8th place.
(Image credit: Hilton Meyer)
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Noga Korem (Israel)

Noga Korem (Israel)
(Image credit: Hilton Meyer)
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Serena Calvetti (Italy) leads a chaser through the rocks.

Serena Calvetti (Italy) leads a chaser through the rocks.
(Image credit: Hilton Meyer)
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Vera Andreeva (Russia)

Vera Andreeva (Russia)
(Image credit: Hilton Meyer)
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The course was dry and hot and dusty.

The course was dry and hot and dusty.
(Image credit: Hilton Meyer)
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Noga Korem (Israel) picks her line.

Noga Korem (Israel) picks her line.
(Image credit: Hilton Meyer)
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Lily Matthews (Great Britain)

Lily Matthews (Great Britain)
(Image credit: Hilton Meyer)
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Alexandra Engen (Sweden) rode a strong race.

Alexandra Engen (Sweden) rode a strong race.
(Image credit: Hilton Meyer)
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Kathrin Stirnemann (Switzerland) led for awhile, but finished second place.

Kathrin Stirnemann (Switzerland) led for awhile, but finished second place.
(Image credit: Hilton Meyer)
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Tanja Zakelj (Slovenia) races toward third.

Tanja Zakelj (Slovenia) races toward third.
(Image credit: Hilton Meyer)
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Vivienne Meyer (Switzerland)

Vivienne Meyer (Switzerland)
(Image credit: Hilton Meyer)
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Barbara Benko (Hungary) would finish fifth.

Barbara Benko (Hungary) would finish fifth.
(Image credit: Hilton Meyer)
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Mona Eberweiser (Germany)

Mona Eberweiser (Germany)
(Image credit: Hilton Meyer)
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Paula Gorycka (Poland) set the pace from the gun.

Paula Gorycka (Poland) set the pace from the gun.
(Image credit: Hilton Meyer)
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The Multivan Merida Team is in Haifa for the European Championships.

The Multivan Merida Team is in Haifa for the European Championships.
(Image credit: Hilton Meyer)
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(Image credit: Hilton Meyer)

The under 23 races at the European Cross Country championships on Thursday were the perfect dress rehearsal for tomorrow's elite races taking place in Haifa, Israel. The weather was hot and slightly humid, but that did not stop the young Europeans from showing everyone their talent.

The under 23 women raced in the cooler morning temperatures, but it wasn't too early for a heated battle between riders. Paula Gorycka (Poland) led the pack on the opening lap, and would eventually finish in sixth place.

Local favourite Noga Korem (Israel) had a bit of a slow start, then worked herself into a top 15 spot, much to the delight of the crowds there to support her.

Meanwhile, in the front of the race, Kathrin Stirnemann (Switzerland) was in a good position, with almost half a minute ahead of Alexandra Engen (Sweden). However, after a slow start, Engen set a blistering third lap pace, where she all but made up the deficit.

Stirnemann's batteries ran out near the end of the final lap, yet she hung on to finish a respectful second place behind Engen, who clocked a sub-22 minute final lap on her way to the win.

Slovenia's Tanja Zakelj put in consistent lap times to secure the final spot on the podium.

Full Results

#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Alexandra Engen (Sweden)1:27:45
2Kathrin Stirnemann (Switzerland)0:00:34
3Tanja Zakelj (Slovenia)0:02:01
4Annie Last (Great Britain)0:02:36
5Barbara Benko (Hungary)0:03:01
6Paula Gorycka (Poland)0:04:18
7Anne Terpstra (Netherlands)0:04:31
8Lily Matthews (Great Britain)0:06:50
9Katarzyna Solus-Miskowicz (Poland)0:07:33
10Judith Pollinger (Italy)0:08:01
11Vera Andreeva (Russia)0:08:13
12Ekaterina Anoshina (Russia)0:08:28
13Mona Eberweiser (Germany)0:08:37
14Vivienne Meyer (Switzerland)0:08:52
15Noga Korem (Israel)0:09:27
16Serena Calvetti (Italy)0:11:03
17Joana Barbosa (Portugal)0:14:35
-1lapViktoria Sultanova (Ukraine)
-1lapNadezhda Orlova (Russia)
DNFKseniya Kirillova (Russia)

 

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