Atkinson vs. Gomez at the 2009 Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship.

Australian veteran Courtney Atkinson held off reigning world champion Javier Gomez to win silver in the second race of the Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Series in Madrid, but the day belonged to Great Britain youngster Alistair Brownlee.

A blistering opening to his 10km run set up a maiden World Cup victory for Brownlee, following a top five finish in the swim and a number of attacking raids on the bike. His stunning performance left Atkinson with the task of outsprinting Gomez in front of his home crowd and the Queenslander pulled away over the final 500 metres to take second place.

“I’m ecstatic with that – it was an awesome race,” said Atkinson. “When I’m fresh, I know I’ve got a good kick, so I thought I would just try and sit on Javier and see how I could go at the finish. I didn’t want to get into a dual with him over a long period because he’s such a solid runner and been one of the best in the world for such a long time. I’m not sure where he’s at in terms of his fitness at the moment, but I’m pretty happy with a silver medal.”

Atkinson exited the water aggressively to ensure he was among the leaders as they began the climb at the start of the 40km bike ride. The challenging course and solid pace meant some contenders dropped off over the opening laps, leaving 11 athletes, including Atkinson and up-and-coming Queenslander James Seear, together with four Russians, Gomez and Brownlee with a break on the field.

Cycling takes place at the 2009 Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship

A large chase pack which included fellow Aussie Brad Kahlefeldt and Olympic gold medallist Jan Frodeno failed to make any significant inroads, consigning that group to a deficit of a minute and a half as they began the run.

The medal ceremony at the 2009 Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship.

Kahlefeldt, who claimed silver in a photo finish in the series opener in Tongyeong, South Korea, was just unable to tag onto the back of the lead pack at the start of the bike leg, in what proved a crucial blow to his chances. He made up significant ground over the final stages to finish ninth, while Seear was passed by Frodeno with 50 metres to go to finish just outside the top 10.

Triple world champion Peter Robertson had a poor swim, emerging a minute behind the leaders and pulled out of the race towards the halfway stage of the bike leg. Victoria’s Gareth Halverson finished 22nd.
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Atkinson wins the Australian Distance Championship

Queenslander Courtney Atkinson confirmed his status as a master tactician by successfully defending his Australian Olympic Distance Triathlon title in today’s City of Perth Challenge.

Following what was, by his lofty standards, a poor swim, the Beijing Olympian lead a pack of 16 off the bike before running away from Victorian-based ACT athlete Gareth Halverson at the halfway stage of the 10km run to win in a time of 1hr 46min 17secs. Halverson finished almost a full minute adrift, while up-and-coming Queenslander James Seear snaring bronze and in doing so earned himself automatic selection in the Under 23 field for the World Championships on the Gold Coast in September.

Atkinson rides to victory in Australian Distance Championship

“I had a really poor swim because the young blokes were all hyped up and sprinted out for the first 200 metres and I really battled to get through the field from there,” Atkinson said.

“Gareth went with me on the run and although we’re actually rooming together over here this weekend I really don’t know that much about his racing style and you’re never too sure how things will go because someone always jumps up and has a good day. But at the 5km mark it started to warm up and I suppose I was able to hold my pace and he dropped off a bit. That was the goal – to run out reasonably hard and then stick to a pace that I could hold evenly.”

Halverson, 24, was happy with his return to form: “I had a few injuries and then it was probably more of a mental challenge to turn things around, but that was a good race for me and gives me a solid platform going into what will hopefully be a strong season”.

Annabel Luxford leads the field in the Australian Distance Championship

In the women’s race, Queensland’s Annabel Luxford continued her triumphant return from injury, dominating today’s field to add the Olympic Distance title to the national sprint crown she secured in Hobart last month.

Luxford was in complete control after stepping off the bike among a leading bunch of four riders, but set the tone immediately in the run leg to move away and win easily in a time of 1hr 59min 38secs. Japan’s Sakimoto Tomoko showed plenty of grit to claim second, while local hope Felicity Sheedy-Ryan thrilled the Perth crowd to pull back two places in the run home to snare the bronze medal.

Luxford, a former world number one, only gave herself a pass mark. “I need to sharpen up a bit – my transitions were pretty rusty and I need to show a bit more explosiveness in those initial stages on each leg,” said the 26-year-old. “But that was my first Olympic Distance race for more than a year and I felt far more comfortable on the run today than what I did in Hobart, so all the signs are good.

Luxford racing in the Australian Distance Championship

Emma Jackson, from Queensland, faded on the run to finish sixth in the open field but was crowned the nation Under 23 champion at just 17 years of age. She had already secured a place in the junior field at the World Championships after recently being named Australian Junior Triathlete of the Year.

Both Atkinson and Luxford will now head to Mooloolaba in Queensland in a fortnight for the first of the international circuit World Cup meetings.

About 1100 athletes competed in various events over the weekend as part of the City of Perth Challenge. About 900 age group competitors took part in the Olympic Distance Triathlon which acted as a double-points qualifier for selection in the World Championships on the Gold Coast in September. Podium finishers in each age group gained automatic selection.

Rachael Paxton from Queensland’s Sunshine Coast recorded the fastest time among female age group competitors, finishing in 2hrs 4min 22secs. The fastest male was Ryan Bailie,from Bunbury in WA, completing the course in 1hr 52min 33secs.

Australian Triathlon Championships – Olympic Distance Results:
Perth – March 15 2009
Australian Triathlon Championships – Olympic Distance

Perth – March 15 2009

Men’s Results

1. Courtney Atkinson (QLD)- 1h46.17s
2. Gareth Halverson(WA)- 1h47.16s
3. James Seear (QLD)- 1h48.01s

Women’s Results

1. Annabel Luxford (QLD) – 1h59.38s
2. Sakimoto Tomoko (Japan)- 2h01.00
3. Felicity Sheedy Ryan (WA)- 2h03.38

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Annabel Luxford competing in Hobart

Australia’s leading triathletes head to Perth this weekend for the 2009 Australian Olympic Distance Triathlon Championships and while the national crown will be their major concern, bragging rights are on the line with a “Battle of the Sexes” showdown.

The Olympic distance race is the feature event of the City of Perth Challenge festival. The course starts with a 1500-metre swim in the Swan River, followed by a 40km bike leg (four laps of a 10km course along the foreshore) and a 10km run (three laps of an M-shaped course along Riverside Drive).

The festival also includes the Age Group Championships, attracting nearly 800 competitors, with a podium place in each age group securing a spot in the Australian team for the World Championships on the Gold Coast in September. An Enticer Triathlon (375m swim, 10km ride and 2.5km run) is also on the program.

Former ITU world No.1 Annabel Luxford, 27, headlines the elite women’s field. She will be vying for her first Australian Olympic distance crown and an improved ranking when she contests the second race in her comeback.

Luxford’s ranking has dropped to 45 since missing most of last year because of stress fractures, but she had a confidence–boosting victory in her first race back four weeks ago, claiming the Australian sprint title in Hobart.

She is looking forward to the extra challenge presented by the “Battle of the Sexes” format that will give the women a 12-minute handicap start on the men’s field, which will be led by 2008 Olympian Courtney Atkinson.

“While I do like being chased by boys, there’s a lot more of them in the Perth race than there are of us, so I think it’s going to be tough to beat them home,” Luxford joked.

She said she was pleased with how well she pulled up after the race in Hobart, her first in over a year, but was being cautious with her racing schedule and training program to avoid re-injury.

“I am being really conservative with my running,” Luxford said. “There won’t be any massive gains from improvements in my running. I am working on the consistency model and getting improvements from uninterrupted training.”

Luxford hasn’t raced in Perth since the Olympic trials in 2004, while Perth triathlete Felicity Sheedy-Ryan, who finished sixth last year, is hoping local knowledge and an improved swim leg will give her an edge.

SUNDAY TRIATHLON

7.00am Before the serious sporting competition kicks off, budding triathletes are given the chance to sample the sport with the Enticer Triathlon featuring a 375m swim, 10km ride and 2.5km run.

7.30am Podium finishers among the field of more than 800 age group competitors in the Olympic Distance Triathlon secure a spot in the World Championships on the Gold Coast in September. Olympic Distance relay teams are also part of the field.

11.50am The day climaxes with the Australian Olympic Distance Triathlon Championships, which will feature some of the sport’s big names and a wealth of rising talent.

The Olympic Distance course sees athletes line-up for a 1500m swim in the Swan River, followed by four laps of a 10km bike course (40km) along the foreshore, and finishing with three laps of an M-shaped run course (10km) along Riverside Drive.

To enter visit www.challengeseries.org.au

WEEKEND SCHEDULE – Langley Park – Sunday, March 15

Start Time Event

7.00am Enticer Triathlon (individuals)

7.05am Enticer Triathlon (teams)

7.30am Age Group Olympic Distance (individual)

8.30am Age Group Olympic Distance (teams)

11.50am Australian Triathlon Championships – Female and Male “Battle of the Sexes”

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Brad Kahlefeldt crosses the finish line

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

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.

2009 Gold Coast ITU Triathlon Championships Results

ITU Elite
Male

1 Brad Kahlefeldt Aust 1:50:13
2 Courtney Atkinson Aust 1:50:25
3 Dan Wilson Aust 1:50:51
4 Clark Ellice NZ 1:51:35
5 Ryan Sissons NZ 1:51:41
6 Stuart Hayes UK 1:51:41

Female

1 Kiyomi Niwata Japan 2:00:45
2 Daniela Ryf SUI 2:01:13
3 Barbara Riveros Chile 2:01:15
4 Sarah Crowley Aust 2:02:04
5 Misato Takagi Japan 2:02:23

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Courtney Atkinson, Male winner, 2009 Australian Elite Sprint Distance Triathlon Championships

Defending champion, the Gold Coast’s Courtney Atkinson, has once again won
the Australian Triathlon Sprint Championships beating home rival Brisbane’s
Dan Wilson in a stunning sprint to the line in Hobart this afternoon.

In amazing finish, it was an exact repeat of the 2008 championship final,
right down to the time margin split of a mere second. As they pushed each
other to victory, Atkinson broke the tape in 55m30s with the 23 year old
Wilson a hair’s breadth behind in 55m31s. Teenager, 19 year old Josh
Amberger from Brisbane, who led the national field of 19 men out of the
opening 750m swim leg, finished 3rd.

The 20km bike leg saw a pack of nine tick off with precision the eight lap
course, from Hobart’s dockside to Battery Point, before entering transition,
when the real race began.

The experienced Atkinson darted from transition but Wilson was determined
not to let him go, and shot out behind him. The two ran neck at neck at 3
minute run pace over the 5km city street leg, racing for the last kilometre
as if they were in a final sprint. Despite surges from the two to try and
breakaway, the race came down the final 50 metres, when Atkinson in a final
lunge secured victory.

It was Atkinson’s fourth national sprint title and for the Beijing Olympian,
the win kicked off his 2009 campaign in style. But it was a race for
Atkinson to even get to the start line. His flight from the Gold Coast was
cancelled last night, and the Gold Coaster took a Sunday morning plane that
saw him land in Hobart just two hours before the race and at the race
precint, 10 minutes before the start gun.

Courtney Atkinson, Male winner, 2009 Australian Elite Sprint Distance Triathlon Championship

“I loved that today,” said an elated Atkinson after the win. “I loved the
pace of the race and the battle with Dan. It was worth coming here for
that, and in fact it was very worthwhile for me to have to race at such pace
and with such intensity.

“It is very very early in the season for me and I have only been training
for about a month. It was a lot of hard work, the pace was on and it was
probably a bit above what I am doing, but it was a good start.

“You know, there’s always a little doubt in your mind, and with a hundred
metres today, there was a big doubt!!

“But the years of experience, the hard racing, got me home. I like being in
those situations, but Dan should be proud of himself, he’s improved a lot .”

For Wilson, it was a disappointment to come in 2nd again, but rewarding to
know he was keeping pace with the world class Atkinson.

“It was close again, another really exciting finish, but he (Atkinson)
didn’t flinch,” said Wilson.

“I was so close, but so far. You know I think it would have been easier to
lose by 30 seconds, but that is racing.”

RESULTS:
Australian Triathlon Sprint Championship – MENS Hobart – Sunday February 15 2009:
1. Courtney Atkinson (Gold Coast – QLD)
55m 30 s
2. Daniel Wilson (Brisbane – QLD)
55m 31s
3. Josh Amberger (Brisbane – QLD)
56m 09s

BLK1 Article: TRIATHLON AUSTRALIA BLK1 Photographer: DELLY CARR

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