Media Release - Birmingham and Kuijken tipped to defend Bolt titles

NOOSA, Australia (October  25, 2012) – Dual Olympian Collis Birmingham will attempt to create his own slice of history when he lines up in the Asics Bolt on Saturday, 3 November, aiming to win a fifth title in the race he as dominated and made his own in recent years. Susan Kuijken will return to Australian to defend her title.

Birmingham has been installed as the pre event favourite with his record here and given his great mate and nemesis Ben St Lawrence will miss the race. St Lawrence pushed Birmingham all the way in 5km road race last year finishing just 6 seconds adrift.

This year Ryan Gregson is emerging as the one to throw down the challenge and put a stop to Birmingham’s dominance. Gregson is currently in Victoria preparing for the upcoming season after a disappointing London Olympic campaign, when he tore his calf muscle in the qualifying rounds of the 1500m and eventually forced to watch from the sidelines.

Gregson’s speed will ensure the pace is on and may even push Birmingham to the one title he hasn’t claimed from the event – the race record. Set back in 1999 by Joseph Waweru 13:41, Birmingham’s closest time was 2011 – 13:53.

But this could be the year for the 27-year-old who has set two personal bests in 2012 over 5000m (13:10.51) and half marathon (1:03.10). He is ranked in the top 10 on the Australian All-Time list from 1500m to 10,000m - sitting 2nd behind Ben St Lawrence for 10,000m, and 3rd behind Craig Mottram and St Lawrence over 5000m.

Holland’s Susan Kuijken made her Australian race debut at the Bolt last year, the last minute decision to compete proved a winning one.

The 26-year-old said it was a nice welcome gift to Australia last year.  Not familiar with the course she followed the pack eventually beating home her Australian friend Lisa Corrigan.

Now familiar with the hot dog circuit and conditions that Noosa can throw up Kuijken is likely to dictate the race but Olympian Zoe Buckman will definitely factor in the lead group following a fantastic Games performance on debut.
Victorian, Buckman bowed out in the 1500m semi-finals, after giving the Australian team an historic first with two semi-finalists at the Olympics.

Buckman, on her first Australian team, produced a personal best performance of 4min5.03sec but was unlucky to strike a hot semi-final. She ran faster than every woman in the first semi-final but finished in 10th place in her race, which left her short of qualifying by three places.

The race is widely regarded as Australia’s premier 5km road distance event and continually attracts an outstanding field; the 2012 showdown is set to continue that tradition.

One of the highlights of the Noosa Triathlon Multisport Festival is always the men’s and women’s ASICS 5km Bolt held on Super Saturday, 3 November.

A long time Noosa tradition, the ASICS Bolt brings together the best male and female Australian middle and long distance athletes who do battle in front of the thousands of sports fans and curious onlookers who line the hot and noisy Noosa Parade.

COURSE RECORD:
Men                          Joseph Waweru               13:41 (1999)
Women                    Benita Johnson                 15:22 (2002)

For more event information and to enter online visit: www.noosatri.com.au

The Noosa Triathlon Multi-Sport Festival is supported by Events Queensland as part of a growing calendar of sporting, cultural, regional and business events across the state

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