Sport
16 August, 2024
Triathlon events begin for 2024/25 with quick times
The Maryborough and District Triathlon Club conducted its first event of its 2024/25 club championship season from the Maryborough Sports and Leisure Centre on Sunday August 11 in warm weather with light winds ideal for triathlon performance.
Event distances were long course (2 km run, 8 km ride, and 2 km run), and short course (1 km run, 4 km ride, and 1 km run).
In the open male long course it was a very entertaining and enthralling competition with Josh Britten, Adam Lowery, and Cooper Mark all producing outstanding performances.
Cooper took an early lead on the run leg with Josh and Adam within striking distance in readiness for the cycle leg.
Josh produced a blistering cycle leg to take the lead from the other two triathletes heading into T2 and the final run leg.
Cooper was able to maintain his early run form to reassume the lead and cross the finish line in 32:50, with Josh (33:20) and Adam (37:51) also continuing to push towards the finish line in a great competition.
In the 50+ female long course category it was a regional field with Lyn Martin (Ballarat) and Jane Anderson (Toolleen) enjoying the course to both produce strong performances.
Both triathletes enjoyed the different triathlon disciplines with Lyn excelling on the run leg and Jane producing the ride of the day in the cycle leg.
In the end it was Lyn who crossed the finish line in 42:28 to take first place with Jane (47:47) in second place.
Young Bentley Meyer, in his first duathlon, also produced a strong performance, especially on the run leg, to take first place in the under 16 male long course category in a time of 40:50.
Bentley displayed all the attributes of a young up-and-coming triathlete, and all bodes well for a bright future in the sport.
In the open female short course category it was Abbey Klemm, in one of her first club events, who excelled on both the run and cycle legs to produce a strong result crossing the finish line in 33:32 to win this category.
Ella Govan, participating in the under 16 female short course category, displayed experience and form beyond her years to win this category in the outstanding time of 25:40.
The next event on the 2024/25 club calendar will be a reverse triathlon from the Maryborough Sports and Leisure Centre on Sunday September 8. Course distances will be long course (2 km run, 8 km ride, and 400 m swim), and short course (1 km run, 4 km ride, and 200 m swim).