Welcome to the home of the Gold Coast Tri - Luke Harrop Memorial by USM Events.

Australia's Premier Sprint Distance Triathlon 750m swim / 20km cycle / 5km run (Enticer & Kids distances also available)

KAHLEFELDT’S TRIUMPHANT RETURN

Beijing Olympian Brad Kahlefeldt led home an Australian clean sweep of the 2009 Gold Coast ITU Oceania Championships in his first race in five months today.

Kahlefeldt edged out Beijing team mate Courtney Atkinson, who recently won the Australian Sprint title and rising star Dan Wilson with Japan’s Kiyomi Niwata taking the women’s crown ahead of Switzerland’s Daniela Ryf and Chilean Barbara Riveros. Kahlefeldt said he was delighted with the fast and furious course raced today which will be the same use for the 2009 Gold Coast ITU World Triathlon Championships in September.

Kahlefeldt is unbeaten on this course, with four wins and must give him a huge confidence boost ahead of the World Championships.

Early race leader Clayton Fettell lead off the front of the bike for the entire 40km and headed into the run with a 45 second lead from the chase group of 45. But after the first lap of the run the heat had decimated the field and it was the Australian trio Kahlefeldt, Atkinson, Wilson and the UK’s Stuart Hayes that broke away. Hayes was first to lose touch. Kahlefeldt turned up the intensity in the final lap which no one could match to take an easy victory in the end.

In the ITU Australian Junior Oceania Championships Courtney Dutton and New Zealand’s Jos Hoetjes put in commanding performances.

The win handed Dutton the final spot on the Australian female junior team to contest the World Championships on the Gold Coast in September along with team mates Holly Aitken and Emma Jackson.

New Zealand junior champion, Hoetjes continued his outstanding season following his bronze at the recent Australian Youth Olympics and victories in local races in New Zealand to also add the Oceania title to his resume.

Dutton has been a consistent performer this season, featuring in the silver medal winning team at the Australian Youth Olympics. Dutton handled the pressure and conditions like a seasoned professional despite having to run down the Australian Youth Olympics gold medallist Aitken over the 5km to secure victory. Another emerging talent Victorian Jaimi Chisholm recorded one of her best results finishing third.

The Gold Coast Triathlon – Luke Harrop Memorial was first on the racing agenda. Approximately 2500 athletes competed in one of the three distances on offer; Sprint (750m swim, 20km cycle, 5km run); Enticer (300m swim, 10km cycle, 2km run); and The Courier Mail Superkidz Triathlon.

Age Group competiotors were racing to secure a spot on the Australian team to compete at the 2009 Gold Coast ITU Triathlon World Championships. Nerang’s Risa Saito made the most of the perfect early conditions, coming home in 1hr, 3min, 53secs. The fastest male home was Paul Wiedersehn in 58min,24secs.