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Yesterdays Olympic Distance triathlon was the perfect finish for many athletes, after 320 athletes took to their starting lines ready to race against the clock in the final event in the 2010 Compendium Suncoast Multisport Series.
Over 200 triathlete lines up for the Olympic Distance triathlon, taking on a 1.5km swim, then a 40km cycle and then a 10km run. The athletes had complete road closure along NMR, Snell Parade and Battery Beach road, ensuring that Safety was paramount. The Duathlon event attracted over 50 top athletes, with Gauteng Bryce Viegas coming back to claim his winners crown.
The Rookie Duathlon saw the younger athletes taking on a 200m swim, followed by a 5km cycle and then a 1.25km run, giving then a taste of what's to come when they grow up. James Wewege won the rookie event, beating 2nd place athlete Aaron Bigger and Tyler O'Conner. The Ladies Rookie Triathlon was won by Nicole Muller. Michaela Schlander and Nerish Metha came 2nd and 3rd respectively.
The battle in the Olympic Triathlon came on the bike, with Donavan Van Gelder clawing back 2 minutes on the swim leaders to take the lead heading out for the 10km run route. Gerhard De Bruin was 10sec back with Glen Gore 1 min back starting the run. However Van Gelder's running strength showed and he finished the race in 1hrs 57 32min. De Bruin finished in 2nd in 1hr 59min with Glen Gore clinching 3rd place in 2hrs and 11sec. Van Gelder made it 3 in a row, after winning the previous 2 events in the series earlier this year.
The Ladies race was between Durban triathlete Taylor Glover and Gauteng Athlete Corrine Berg. Coming out the swim with only 20seconds between then, it was down to the bike and run for a winner to be decided. On the bike, Taylor and Corrine were well placed and finished the bike within 20second from each other. However it was the younger of the two Taylor Glover who turned on the pace on the 2nd lap of the 10km run to clinch her victory. Corrine Berg came a well deserved 2nd and Lauren Douglall clinching 3rd place.
Race Directors Damian and Lauren Bradley from B-Active Sports said " We had an overwhelming response to the event and took almost 100 late entries on the day, making this one of the biggest Olympic Distance triathlon in South Africa. We had great support from the athletes and Suncoast Casino and we have had an amazing year of racing. 2011 will be bringing bigger and better things for the series, so what this space"
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