Ejby, Denmark - The experienced Swede Claes Nyberg has at last won the men’s title at the Nordic Cross Country Championship. Nyberg has been a silver medallist five-times at previous Nordic Championships, and last year he won the bronze medal.

Sweden made a clean podium sweep of the senior men’s 9.5km event, as did the Norwegians in the senior women’s 4.5 kilometres event.

Nyberg took a 20 seconds victory over his compatriot Erik Sjöqvist, with Henrik Skoog a further six seconds adrift in the men’s event, in which former two-time winner Jari Matinlauri of Finland finished sixth.

In a much closer contest in the senior women’s division, Susanne Wigene was the first of a Norwegian trio which also consisted of Kirsten Otterbu and Runa Bostad.

The junior men’s team title was taken by Sweden, while the junior women’s category was won by Finland. The individual junior winners were Joel Lewis Jonsson (Swe) and Ingunn Opsal (Nor).

The under foot conditions were very tricky because the surface of the course was very loose. The competitors had to work exceptionally hard to keep a firm footing, even after opting to wear the longest possible spikes to obtain the best possible grip.

Nyberg, 33, is a consistent international class runner, who of note took a silver medal at the European Cross Country Championships seven years ago.

Women’s champion Wigene, 26, was the Nordic Junior Champion seven years ago. Last summer, she ran a Nordic Record of 9:45.21 in the 3000m Steeplechase, the 15th fastest time in the World list in 2004.

Mikko Nieminen for the IAAF

Senior Men - 9503 km:
1) Claes Nyberg Swe 29:34,
2) Erik Sjöqvist Swe 29:54,
3) Henrik Skoog Swe 30:00,
4) Steen Walter Den 30:33,
5) Juha Hellstén Fin 30:37,
6) Jari Matinlauri Fin 30:40,
7) Erik Petersson Swe 30:47,
8) Christian Olsen Den 30:51,

Team: 1) Sweden 13 (Claes Nyberg, Erik Sjöqvist, Henrik Skoog, Erik Pettersson), 2) Denmark 36, 3) Finland 37, 4) Norway 56.

Senior Women - 4563 km:
1) Susanne Wigene Nor 15:59,
2) Kirsten Otterbu Nor 16:01,
3) Runa Bostad Nor 16:08,
4) Ulla Tuimala Fin 16:14,
5) Lena Gavelin Swe 16:20,
6) Hanna Karlsson Swe 16:31,
7) Anni Tuimala Fin 16:44,
8) Louise Pil Mørch Den 16:48,

Team: 1) Norway 6 (Susanne Wigene, Kirsten Otterbu, Runa Bostad), 2) Sweden 21, 3) Finland 22, 4) Denmark 33.

Junior Men - 6586 km:
1) Joel Lewis Jonsson Swe 21:19,
2) Øystein Andersen Nor 21:22,
3) Thomas Gabrielsen Nor 21:26,
4) Olle Walleräng Swe 21:32,
5) Tuomas Jokinen Fin 21:32,
6) Kári Steinn Karlsson Isl 21:41,
7) Lars Johansson Swe 21:41,
8) Joackim Brøndbo Nor 21:42,
 
Team: 1) Sweden 12 (Joel Lewis Jonsson, Olle Walleräng, Lars Johansson), 2) Norway 13, 3) Finland 24, 4) Denmark 38.

Junior Women - 4563 km:
1) Ingunn Opsal Nor 16:16,
2) Anne Holm Jørgensen Den 17:09,
3) Paula Holma Fin 17:14,
4) Frida Flodström Swe 17:17,
5) Maija Skyttä Fin 17:18,
6) Laura Skyttä Fin 17:19,
7) Miriam Berg Hovda Nor 17:21,
8) Pauliina Oksanen Fin 17:42,

Team: 1) Finland 14 (Paula Holma, Maija Skyttä, Laura Skyttä), 2) Denmark 24, 3) Sweden 27.