Australia
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Alexander and Steffen win Ironman 70.3 Geelong 2010
Posted on February 7th, 2010 No comments
Craig Alexander launched his campaign for a third consecutive Ironman World Championship in perfect style, successfully defending his title at today’s Ironman 70.Geelong. The Australian beat a stellar field which included his countryman and 2008 race champion Leon Griffin, and Australia’s youngest ever Ironman champion Tim Berkel (NSW), who finished second and third respectively.In the women’s race, Switzerland’s Caroline Steffen took her inaugural Ironman 70.3 victory. Last year’s winner Sam Warriner (New Zealand) narrowly missed the podium, finishing fourth behind Australia’s Carrie Lester and Lisa Marangon.
1,500 athletes took part in today’s event, held at picturesque Eastern Beach in Geelong, Victoria. They were treated to ideal race conditions, with a light breeze and the sun breaking through just as the starter’s gun fired.
The professional field had the benefit of a five minute head start over the rest of the age group and team competitors. As expected, Clayton Fettell established an early lead, emerging from the 1.9km swim in an astonishing 21:54, over two minutes clear of the chase group which included Alexander, Paul Ambrose, Michael Murphy and Jan Rehula. Griffin, Berkel, Peter Schokman and Matty White were a further 10-15 seconds behind.
An accomplished swimmer and water polo player, 23-year-old Fettell has been working hard to develop his bike/run combination since winning last year’s Gold Coast Half Ironman. Last month he finished 14th overall in the national time trial cycling championships, and it was clear that his tactic going in to the 90.1km bike leg would be to throw out the challenge to “catch me if you can.”
By the end of the first lap, he had already extended his lead by a further minute. Meanwhile, the original chase group had been joined by a secondary group which included notoriously strong cyclists Jason Shortis and Ollie Whistler.
Fettell later said that he was “riding scared,” however he is clearly well motivated by fear, as he had developed a buffer of almost five minutes by the time he entered the bike/run transition. He ran out strongly, however it was clear that the race was by no means over, with a group including Alexander, Griffin, Berkel, White and Schokman in hot pursuit.
By the end of the first lap, Fettell’s lead had been whittled down to just two minutes, and at the 11km mark, he was finally passed by Alexander, and then Griffin. Berkel kept a steady but solid pace to gradually run through the field to claim third position.
In his post-race interview, a typically humble Alexander said, “I’m really happy with that. That was a solid hit-out, especially considering all the travel. I’ve done a strong block of training these last five or six weeks.”
He noted that there is a huge amount of talent coming up through the ranks, offering particular praise to Leon Griffin. “Griff’s on the same sort of upswing as me. He had a great race. I think he’s very under-rated. He finished ninth in Clearwater last year, which is the world championship for this distance. He received a four minute penalty and lot of guys felt he was hardly done by. He’s a great athlete.”
Griffin returned the compliment, saying “Today was always going to come down to a running race. Craig showed why he’s the world champion, he ran away with ease.”
Next stop for Alexander is likely to be Ironman 70.3 Singapore at the end of March, before he and his family head to the US where he will continue his preparation for the Ford Ironman World Championship with a number of the major Ironman 70.3 and Olympic Distance races.
Steffen dominates the women’s race
The women’s race unfolded very differently. In the early stages, it appeared that the match-race between defending champion Warriner and her Swiss rival Caroline Steffen would develop as predicted, with Warriner leading her competitors out of the swim.However, Steffen quickly stamped her authority on the bike course, saying later that the slightly undulating terrain suits her perfectly. By the end of the first lap she had taken the lead from Warriner, with Lisa Marangon in third position.
From there, Steffen took control of the race, eventually winning by exactly five minutes over Marangon and a fast-finishing Carrie Lester. Warriner finished a disappointing fourth.
An ecstatic Steffen said “It feels awesome to win! It’s my first win in a 70.3 race. I had an awesome day, I felt so strong. I did my own race, and never looked back.”
Steffen’s win today qualifies her for the Foster Grant Ironman World Championship 70.3, where she finished fourth last year.
TOP FIVE RESULTS – PROFESSIONAL MEN & WOMEN
Position Overall
1. Craig Alexander (NSW) 3:53:15
2. Leon Griffin (VIC) 3:54:35
3. Tim Berkel (NSW) 3:56:10
4. Peter Schokman (NSW) 3:56:25
5. Clayton Fettell (NSW) 3:56:391. Caroline Steffen (SWI) 4:14:32
2. Carrie Lester (QLD) 4:19:32
3. Lisa Marangon (NSW) 4:19:49
4. Samantha Warriner (NZ) 4:23:01
5. Nicole Ward (NSW) 4:30:29Source: Ironman.com
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Sydney to relive Olympic Games triathlon glory with 2010 Dextro Energy
Posted on September 24th, 2009 1 commentThe International Triathlon Union announced today, almost nine years since the inaugural Olympic Games triathlon, that the 2010 Dextro Energy Triathlon – ITU World Championship Series will come to Sydney next year as the sport returns to the iconic Australian city in April.
Following the successful completion of the 2009 Dextro Energy Triathlon – ITU World Championship Series, with the Grand Final held on Australia’s Gold Coast last weekend, the joint initiative between ITU, Triathlon Australia and Events New South Wales will see Sydney host a leg of the global eight race series for the next three years. The 2010 series will follow the same format as the 2009 programme with seven world championship races and a Grand Final, which will be hosted in the Hungarian capital, Budapest.
“Sydney is a truly incredible city which is very special to the history of our sport,” said ITU President, Marisol Casado. “Triathlon’s involvement within the Olympic Programme was imperative to the sport’s growth and prestige, and Sydney allowed us to showcase our dynamic multisport in a fantastic sporting arena with passionate supporters. It will be a great pleasure to return to the city next year.”
“As an athlete it’s very exciting to know we’ll be racing in Sydney and around the Opera House,” newly crowned 2009 Dextro Energy Triathlon – ITU World Champion, Australia’s Emma Moffatt, said. “Watching triathlon’s debut at the Olympic Games was one of those moments that helped inspire me to become an elite triathlete, so to have the opportunity to defend my world title on home soil next year will be a magical experience.”
“Sydney is a spectacular edition to the 2010 calendar, it is a truly world class venue” said Paul Coleman, Managing Director of the Dextro Energy Triathlon – ITU World Championship Series. “Global TV audiences and enthusiastic Australian fans will now have a mouth-watering opportunity to watch the best triathletes in the world competing in the ultimate lifestyle sport in the ultimate lifestyle city.”
The Sydney course will closely resemble the 2000 Olympic route with most of the action taking place against the breathtaking backdrop of Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House, involving multiple lap bike and run courses to ensure a spectator friendly race. Although the races in 2010 will only include elite competitors there are plans to create a mass participation race, starting in 2011, allowing thousands of amateur triathletes the chance to compete alongside their Olympic heroes.
“Sydney and New South Wales’ experience in hosting world class events such as World Youth Day, the Rugby World Cup and the Olympic Games, made Sydney the ideal choice,” said Premier of New South Wales, Nathan Rees. “We know how to stage major international events and securing the Dextro Energy Triathlon – ITU World Championship Series is a real coup for Sydney.”
The 2009 Dextro Energy Triathlon – ITU World Championship Series included stopovers in Washington DC, London, Hamburg, Madrid and Yokohama, creating a truly international and exciting race programme for the world’s best triathletes. The ITU’s full 2010 race calendar will be announced in early October.
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Snowsill out of Grand Final
Posted on September 3rd, 2009 No comments
Olympic and three-time world champion Emma Snowsill was today forced to withdraw from the upcoming Dextro Energy Triathlon – ITU World Championship Grand Final on the Gold Coast, Australia due to her recent hip surgery.Snowsill recently returned home from racing in Europe for medical attention to a labral tear and soft cartilage injury to her hip. Whereas keyhole surgery was successful, it required her to rest the troubled joint before returning to a heavy load of training. Despite being underdone, Snowsill was keen to race, but a weekend meeting with her surgeon convinced her and coach Craig Walton that it was not worth returning too early and causing potential long term damage.
“I am really disappointed that having the opportunity to compete at home in front of family and friends is not going to happen,” Snowsill said. “I have done everything possible I was allowed to in that short time, however, I can only be thankful it happened this year and not last year. I am still excited to witness the first Grand Final of the World Series unfold and will still feel proud to showcase our sport to the local community and the international athletes who are competing.”
Walton said Snowsill is a fierce competitor and extremely frustrated; however, it was always going to be a tall order to get her on the start line for the Grand Final on September 13.
“If Emma continues to push the envelope like she already has and competes with the labrum injury under repair, she would most likely be compromising the joint if she over stresses the area now, which may adversely impact on her longer term run-up to the next Olympics.”Snowsill’s withdrawal means all eyes will be on Emma Moffatt as she attempts to clinch her first world title in a year when, for the first time, the championship is decided over a series of races.
Snowsill current sits 11th in the Dextro Energy Triathlon – ITU World Championship rankings.
Dextro Energy Triathlon – ITU Triathlon World Championship Grand Final
Race 8, Gold Coast, Australia
Elite Men: Saturday, September 12, 3.15pm AEST
Elite Women: Sunday, September 13, 2.45pm AEST -
Capricorn Half Ironman In Yeppoon
Posted on August 19th, 2009 No comments
Matty White (SA) and Lisa Marangon (NSW) have won the tenth anniversary edition of the Capricorn Resort Half Ironman, held Sunday in Yeppoon, central Queensland, in near picture perfect conditions.Comprising the 1.9km Aqua Shop swim, 90.1km Capricorn Resort ride and the 21.1km X-Tri run, the tenth anniversary event served as Round Two of the Australian Half Ironman Series and the QLD Long Distance Championships.
The event was raced in very warm and humid conditions, and clear skies – emulating the famed Hawaiian Ironman and the Ironman World Championships 70.3, in Clearwater Florida.
Attracting its biggest ever field ever, the sold out race saw over 700 triathletes, including almost 30 in the open men’s and women’s categories take on the central QLD based course.
For 31 year old Matty White, the win marked his break-through into the national Half Ironman Series, whilst continuing a proud tradition of race in displaying new national talent in Half Ironman racein. A full-time fire fighter, White demonstrated that he is right on track for his first attempt at the holy grail of Ironman triathlon – the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii – later this year.
White qualified for Hawaii when he finished eighth at Ironman Australia (Port Macquarie) in April. Following the Port Macquarie race, he took a five week break from training, which included a sneaky visit to Kona, Hawaii to check out the course of arguably the world’s most gruelling sports event.
“This is my first professional win in the Australian Half Ironman Series and I’m stoked. Coming from the South Australian winter, it’s great to know that I can race well in the heat,” said an ecstatic White at the finish. He then gave full credit to NZ’s Duncan Milne, who achieved an early solo breakaway on the 90.1km bike course. Milne had a lead of some three minutes heading in to the bike, but White’s patience in the hot conditions paid off and he was able to take the lead 7km into the 21km run leg.
Hoping to enjoy every moment of his inaugural victory run down the finish chute, White checked over his shoulder with one kilometre to go, only to see Tim Berkel chasing hard just 50 metres behind. The two pushed each other all the way to the finish, crossing the line just 13 seconds apart after more than four hours of hard racing.
Next up for White is a four week acclimatisation trip to Port Douglas, where he will have one final race hit-out before heading to Kona in October.
Berkel was also delighted with his performance today. He has just returned to training following a brief recovery from his recent racing stint in Europe and the US. He will now be focusing on the Australian Half Ironman Series as he prepares to defend his title at Ironman Western Australia in December.
In the women’s race, NSW’s ultra-consistent Lisa Marangon raced to an emphatic victory, her first at the Capricorn race after five attempts, leading all the way to consolidate her lead in the national series. Unable to stay for the presentation, she did however leave an emotional note of thanks to her fellow competitors, the race volunteers and all associated with the event.
NSW’s Nicole Ward also delivered a consistent race to place second from Queensland’s Carrie Lester, with Kirsten Molloy completing the top five just seconds apart.
Molloy was also the fastest age grouper in the race; with Jarrod Owen the fastest male age grouper.
The final finisher in the race was 80 year old Bob Southwell; with Toowoomba’s Clynton Barnes, and Mackay’s Adrian Ellul the sole nine times finishers in this event once again making to the finish line to notch up number ten!
The 10th Anniversary race was supported by the Capricorn Resort – Yeppoon, Enervit, Tri Travel, Tri Shave, Blue Seventy / Aqua Shop, Tropical Auto Group, Wurth’s Motorcycles with community support from various schools, the SES and SLSA and organized by X-Tri Australia.
Top Five Men
1.
Matty White (SA)
4.04.11
28.16
2.16.51
1.19.02
2.
Tim Berkel (NSW)
4.04.24
28.16
2.16.52
1.19.14
3.
Tim Reed (Lord Howe Island)
4.07.23
28.18
2.16.48
1.22.15
4.
James Bowstead (NZ)
4.07.29
28.41
2.16.34
1.22.12
5.
Jason Crowther (Qld)
4.10.59
28.18
2.17.01
1.25.38
Top Five Women
1.
Lisa Marangon (NSW)
4.35.11
29.11
2.27.12
1.38.47
2.
Nicole Ward (NSW)
4.38.26
29.21
2.37.31
1.31.22
3.
Carrie Lester (Qld)
4.42.22
29.25
2.38.11
1.34.45
4.
Kirsten Molloy (NSW)
4.46.35
30.26
2.42.15
1.33.52
5.
Rebecca Eveleigh (NSW)
4.46.54
37.03
2.38.26
1.31.23
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Viridian Noosa Running Festival
Posted on August 5th, 2009 No comments
There were a record number of people participating on course this year particularly in the Beckmans Green Noosa 5km Run/Walk in support of the Cindy Mackenzie Breast Cancer Foundation. Competitors dressed in pink in support of the cause and costumes ranged from extremely creative pink fashionta to wonderfully wild wacky wigs.
The Tanzanians runners showed off their style taking out both the mens and womens Viridian Noosa Half Marathon titles and, not to be outdone, was our own Steve Moneghetti in hot pursuit taking out third.
In the Noosa 10km race Olympian Mitchell Kealey took out the mens title and pocket dynamo Clare Geraghty returned to form taking out the female title two seconds clear of her rivals.
Peter Brock was equally impressive in the Beckmans Green Noosa 5km Run/Walk celebrating his birthday with a win and reclaiming the crown in the men’s event with 14 year old triathlete, Brigette Fischer taking out the women’s title.
It was an amazing day, the sun shone down in style and everyone had a blast.
Thanks to all our wonderful competitors for taking part and particularly for making the day such fun. Thanks also to our fantastic volunteers who work tirelessly to make the day happen. We look forward to seeing you all again in 2010.
Viridian Noosa Half Marathon
Male
1 Patrick Nyangelo Tanzania 1:06:02
2 Oswald Revelian Tanzania 1:06:12
3 Steve Moneghetti Ballarat 1:08:46
4 Tim George Alex Headlands 1:09:54
5 Stephen Paine Prahran 1:09:57Female
1 Sarah Maja Tanzania 1:18:31
2 Roxie Schmidt Moffat Beach 1:18:55
3 Lucy Blaber Beenleigh 1:24:06
4 Bailey Jason
Carindale
1:27:395 Emily Donker
Carindale
1:28:04Noosa 10km Run
Male
1 Mitchell Kealey Mt Gravatt 30:22:00
2 Jonathan Peters Ferny Grove 30:59:00
3 Jay Twist Oxley 31:32:00
Female
1 Claire Geraghty Camp Hill 34:29:00
2 Leisa Smith Worongary 36:14:00
3 Kirra Seidel Alex Headlands 38:12:005km run/walk
Male
1 Peter Bock Cotton Tree 16:31
2 Dylan Nankivell Tannum Sands 16:48
3 Adam Hulme
Currimundi
17:15Female
1 Brigitte Fischer Yaroomba 18:50
2 Alyce Mckenzie Bli Bli 18:59
3 Margaret Atthow Caloundra 19:13