Last week was very hot in Tiraspol, where I met the strongest competitors from Moldova. We comepte in Sprint and Sprint Relay distances. I can say this competition is a simulation of National Championship from 11-13 March, and personal for me is a test to evaluate my level of running at this moment. First day was Sprint distance: 2.4km I passed in 14.25min. Was some problems with missing control points (cause of this I lost around a minute). Average speed was 4.25min/km, is approximatively same speed developed by me at training.

   Second day was Sprint Relay - probably the most interesting part of orienteering races. Team are composed from 2 persons: 1 boy + 1 female (running alternately 2 races). We have reached a consensus with Ana Marusceac to make a team and participate (in 2014 at Nantional Championship  we participated together and got 4th place, so we have already known each other very well). I ran first leg, and started it slow, I deduced it when noticed that all are in front of me. But after a few control points we intersected, meaning that we were at the same control point in same time. The finish line of first leg passed 4 athletes at same time, including myself. As we understood, race will be tight. Over 10 minutes, my partner and Ana Grib, also from Chisinau, passed media control point. More that it - they also finished at same time. Third leg, me and Roma started very fast. However, Roma was faster than me. I didn't have enough speed, and at each control point I lost 2-3 seconds. This stage I finished with a minute later then Roma. However, Ana Marsceac toppled situation and at media control point she was in front of Ana Grib. But... in front of them was a runner from Tiraspol (no one understood how she recovered so long time). Finally, the finish line  was passed first by runner from Tiraspol, and my partner finished 10 seconds later. That is not all. Team from Tiraspol was disqualified because she made a mistake in first leg, and we moved up, and got the FIRST place. Yeeee, Ana -we did it. Thanks Ana Marusceac for a good team!

 I think that simulation was successful. This competition ought to emphasize the favorites for the championship, but the results were to close, so we will know the champions on 11-13 March at National Championship

Below are some pictures