Kirmula and Teini of Kalevan Rasti Victorious at Kainuu O Week – Men’s Elite Thriller Decided Only at the Very End in Kirmula’s Favor
Published: 05.07.2026
Kirmula and Teini of Kalevan Rasti Victorious at Kainuu O Week – Men’s Elite Thriller Decided Only at the Very End in Kirmula’s Favor
In the women's elite category, Marika Teini of Kalevan Rasti claimed the overall victory with a dominant margin of over 11 minutes. Her previous overall victory at the Kainuu Rastiviikko orienteering week dates back ten years ago in Puolanka.
Teini completed the 7.2-kilometer course in a time of 59:56. Even though she headed out into the terrain with a lead of over nine minutes, her chasing competitors were on her mind throughout the race.
"I didn't quite dare to hold back on the pace," Teini stated after her run.
The elite classes got to settle the score on the covered slopes of Väärävaara, with the final battles taking place in the depression-heavy terrain of Säynäjä, which had become familiar to the orienteers.
"The course setters had saved the toughest hills for the final day," Teini commented.
Mira Kaskinen of Rastikarhut orienteered to second place in the women's elite, while Johanna Kriikkula, representing Lapuan Virkiä, took third.
Fierce Battle in the Men's Elite Category
The men's elite category offered nail-biting excitement until the very end. Ruslan Glebov of Turun Metsänkävijät, who started second, caught up with Kalevan Rasti’s Miika Kirmula—who had started three minutes ahead of him—already by the second control.
"The starting point for the race was poor, as I felt quite unwell on Thursday and even had to skip the prize-giving ceremony," Kirmula shared at the finish line.
Kirmula's head start vanished due to a major mistake on the first control and a poor route choice to the second control.
Kirmula and Glebov orienteered neck-and-neck along the 10.1-kilometer course until Kirmula made his winning move during the final, run-heavy stretch. He crossed the finish line 24 seconds ahead of Glebov, who took second place and holds a previous men's elite victory from Sotkamo in 2019.
Kirmula's winning time was 1:03:21. Third place in the men's elite went to Daniel Bolehovský of Kalevan Rasti.
Positive Feedback from Kainuu Orienteering Week Guests
The 58th Kainuu Orienteering Week, organized by Suomussalmen Rasti, was an organizational success, praised competition director Jari Anttonen on Friday after the winners were decided. Throughout the competition week, Kainuu O Week had a positive impact on the Suomussalmi and Hyrynsalmi regions, and the weather also favored the orienteers.
"We received excellent feedback from the participants. The functionality of the compact competition centre was particularly praised," Anttonen says.
Most of the structures at the Säynäjä competition centre will be dismantled over the weekend, after which the equipment will head towards Puolanka early next week. Next year, the Kainuu Orienteering Week will be held in Paljakka from July 4th to July 9th, 2027.
Results:
Full results for the competition categories and open courses
