Media Releases

28 February 2010
Media Release

After three gruelling sprint races Brisbane’s Dan Wilson dominated, winning all three races. Frintova Vendula’s two wins and a fourth place was good enough to secure her the overall win from a field of internationals that dominated the podium in the second round of the National Elite Series race at Raby Bay this morning.

The Triple Super Sprint format saw athletes contest a 250m swim | 5km cycle | 1.6km run completed three times at intervals.

Wilson thrived in the Triple Super Sprint format handling the tight and fast racing best, showing this type of explosive format suits him after finished second to Courtney Atkinson in round one. Atkinson finished in sixth place overall today after missing the lead bunch but storming home on the run legs to place in the top ten of each race.

Sydney’s Dave Matthews continued his good form after placing third in round one of the series, today taking out second place overall. Matthews positioned himself nicely in each swim leg to ensure a clean transition on the bike which proved vital over these short distances.

20-year-old Josh Amberger improved on his fourth place from the Enduro format of race one to finish in third place today.

Wilson has bounced back from a virus that sidelined him from racing for a good part of 2009.

“I’m feeling pretty good at the moment and it’s good to be back racing. It’s unfortunate about being out but that’s all part of racing.

“It’s a good confidence booster going well in these couple of races ahead of Mooloolaba and Sydney,” said Wilson.

Brad Kahlefeldt had a less than ideal start to his 2010 racing when he fell heavily in race one, twisting his ankle then losing his bike computer leaving him with just one gear to ride in all day.

“I’m not sure what happened with my bike computer but I was pretty much just spinning out there.

“That’s how things go sometimes, but the formats are great fun and a good way to get rid of the cobwebs for Mooloolaba at the end of March,” said Kahlefeldt.

The Czech girl bounced back from her round one disappointment when she got caught up in a bike incident to comfortably win the first and third races from Chile's number one ranked athlete Barbara Riveros and the UK’s Vicky Holland. Riveros and Holland finished on equal points. South African Kate Roberts who took out round one of the series finished in fourth spot today.

Current world duathlon champion Frintova showed her class on the run leg of each race, her turn of speed was too good for the rest of the girls.

Junior Ashleigh Gentle was the best of the Australian girls finishing fifth overall today behind a strong international contingent.

“The swim is crazy,” said Gentle after race two.

“It’s great for working on our skills that are not so important in the longer races,” said Gentle.

These formats have been a big hit with the athletes all keen to see them as a permanent fixture on their program.

All focus now turns to the Mooloolaba ITU World Cup at the end of March which doubles as the Australian Championships then the Dextro Energy Triathlon – ITU World Championship Sydney race on April 11.

After a tsunami warning alert for the Moreton Bay area where the swim leg is held for this race organisers took advice from the Bureau of Meteorology and not continue with the swim leg component after 8.00am as tides were expected to rise anywhere up to a metre on the high tide. All QTS competitors race was turned into a duathlon, complete a 2km run instead of the swim leg. The age group field was the biggest ever for a Raby Bay race. Competitors took part in one of three distances.
- QTS race (400m swim | 15km cycle | 4km run);
- Enticer (200m swim | 5km cycle | 2km run);
- The Courier-Mail Kool Kids Tri (100m swim | 2km cycle | 400m run).

Race Director Ian Harwood said later although it all amounted to nothing, the safety of competitors is paramount.

Taking out the Open event was veteran Matt Hopper and Chloe Turner claiming her first ever win.

Race 7 of the Gatorade Queensland Tri Series is the Gold Coast Triathlon – Luke Harrop Memorial on Sunday 18 April. This will be the Grand Final for the 2009/2010 series.

A full set of results are available at www.usmevents.com.au

The Program
Race 7 Gold Coast Sunday April 18, 2010
(SERIES GRAND FINAL - Gold Coast Tri, Luke Harrop Memorial)

For further information please contact Lisa Pringle 0417 005 743 or lisa@usmevents.com.au.