Alistair Brownlee overcame his injury hit season to finish second at his first IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships in South Africa. Lucy Charles also won silver, there was a clean sweep of British golds at the European Youth festival and there was success at the ETU Cup and World University Championships.
IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships
The World Championships took place in South Africa, as the biggest names in middle distance racing lined up on Saturday and Sunday. Lucy Charles again set the pace for the women’s race, exiting the swim 1minute 24 seconds ahead of everybody else. However, Daniella Ryf (SUI) attacked on the bike to take the win for the fourth year in a row. Charles was pleased with second place. Emma Pallant finished ninth, with Sarah Lewis in 12thand Fenella Langridge in 16th.
The men’s race featured three of the sport’s biggest stars in Alistair Brownlee, Jan Frodeno (GER) and Javier Gomez (ESP). The battle between them was enthralling, with Frodeno, the 2008 Olympic Champion and former IRONMAN world champion, edging ahead on the run and being followed by Gomez. However, Gomez slowed down with stomach problems and the site of a fading Gomez spurred Brownlee to find his best run of the year. Brownlee’s 1:07:40 half marathon was impressive, but Frodeno ran 1:06:34 and is clearly recovered from the hamstring issues that prevented him from defending the IRONMAN title in Hawaii last October.
Adam Bowden finished seventh in his first season at middle distance. Elliot Smales finished 16thand Mark Buckingham finished 17th.
British Age Group winners included Erica Fogg (F40-44), Chris Standidge (M35-39) and Clive Kennedy-Burn (M45-49).
Full Women’s Results Full Men’s Results
Loutraki ETU Triathlon Youth European Championships Festival
Great Britain made a clean sweep of the gold medals across the girls, boys and Mixed Relay events. Libby Coleman and Connor Bentley were individual winners and they teamed up with Freya Thompson and Fynn Batkin to win the Mixed Relay.
Karlovy Vary ITU Triathlon World Cup
The Czech Republic hosted the ITU Triathlon World Cup on Sunday. Lucy Hall posted the fastest swim and then fought hard to come in with the lead bike pack. She eventually finished in seventh with Czech native and excellent runner, Vendula Frintova, taking the win. Beth Potter made up a large amount of time with the fastest run leg, finishing 11th.
Callum Johnson was the highest placing Brit in the men’s race in eighth. James Teagle followed in 15thwith Ben Dijkstra returning to the ITU Circuit after a stress fracture. He finished 23rdand will hope to find some late season form at the remaining races.
Kalmar FISU World University Triathlon Championship
The Mixed Relay format has provided success for Great Britain so far this season and once again at the University Triathlon Championships as the team of Leah Peploe, Chris Perham, Bronwen Owen and Jack Willis came in second behind France.
In the individual races Jack Willis just missed out on the podium by seven seconds to finish fourth after a fast swim and bike. Chris Perham placed 33rd, Harry Leleu 44thand Fergus Roberts finished 54th.
Zofingen ITU Powerman Long Distance Duathlon World Championships
There was no title defence for four-time champion, Emma Pooley, who wasn’t there this year, but Flora Colledge claimed sixth in the women’s elite race and there were eight British Age Group medals, including gold for Jane Ritchie (F55-59) and Richard File (M70-74).
Age-Group Medals:
Gold: Jane Ritchie (F55-59); Richard File (M70-74)
Silver: Karen Haley (F55-59); Graham Johnston (M55-59)
Bronze: Lise Soerensen (F35-39); Catriona Kemeny (F40-44); Fiona Carter (F45-49); Stuart Hall (M50-54)
School Games Finals
Triathlon made its debut at the school games this year with the best juniors in the country competing.
PHOTO CREDIT: IRONMAN
