Ferguson second at Asian Long Distance Champs

15th June 2009

Ferguson second at Asian Long Distance Champs, plus other Kiwi results

For immediate release from Triathlon NZ, for further information visit www.triathlon.org.nz

FERGUSON SECOND IN ASIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS DESPITE ‘DETOUR’
Wanaka’s Gina Ferguson has finished second at the Asian Long Distance Triathlon championships in South Korea this morning, despite taking an unplanned detour on the forest run.

Ferguson had a day of incidents but was able to keep her cool to finish in second place and continue her good work towards Ironman Germany.

“I had problems on the bike, for some reason the chain kept coming off causing me to stop on numerous occasions. However I managed to still get off the bike in second, but was a long way back behind Tereza Macel.

“Then on run I went the wrong way as the markers were hard to understand through the forest, but luckily there was another kiwi who had gone down the hill and was coming back and was able to warn me, so I only did about another extra kilometre. I was scared that I had dropped more placings but I was able to keep in 2nd for a relatively good day given the mishaps.”

Asian Long Distance Championships
Gangweon, South Korea
3km Swim, 80km Bike, 20km Run
Elite Women
2 Gina Ferguson NZL, Wanaka
No further results or information available at this time, visit www.triathlon.org for updates

O’GRADY ON PODIUM IN FAMOUS ESCAPE FROM ALCATRAZ
New Zealand triathlete Graham O’Grady has finished a superb 3rd at the Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon in San Francisco Bay this morning with Taupo Ironman competitor Bryan Rhodes racing well to finish in 7th.

The day at the famous race threw athletes the usual tough conditions in front of the beautiful backdrops of downtown San Diego, Alcatraz Island and the Golden Gate Bridge. In the end, Americans Andy Potts and Mary Beth Ellis walked away with the victories.

While athletes were relieved to find that the water was relatively mild at 59 F, the relief ended there. The currents were stronger than usual, making it very difficult to navigate a straight path through the 1.5-mile swim course. The slower swim times were evidence of the tough currents.

Australia’s Clayton Fettell led the men out of the water in 30:37. He was followed by American Dustin McLarty and Potts just seconds later. Potts made a statement early on the bike that he would fight to retain his title. Potts hammered through the bike, finishing the second leg in field-leading time of 45:40 and heading into T2 with nearly a three-minute lead over fellow American David Thompson.

Once on the run, Potts kept a steady pace over the eight-mile course to earn him his third-straight victory at Alcatraz with an overall time of 2:07:25. Thompson worked quickly on the run to cut into Potts’ lead. While Thompson and Hamilton’s Graham O’Grady ran quicker than Potts, their efforts only cut a slight chunk out of Potts’ overall lead. In the end, Thompson finished second at 2:09:51, with O’Grady taking third at 2:10:37.

The pre-race story for the women was the battle between three former champions in Australia’s Michellie Jones, Great Britain’s Leanda Cave and the United States’ Becky Lavelle. The former champs did not disappoint Lavelle led the women out of the water with Cave, American Jasmine Oeinck, Ellis and Jones following close behind. The women’s battle remained tight throughout the race, but Ellis managed to take the lead early on the bike. Ellis’ bike split of 51:07 was the fastest of the field by nearly two minutes, putting her in the second transition in first place.

Ellis stayed strong on the run, with Cave and Lavelle hot on her heals throughout. The three climbed the infamous sand ladder only 20 seconds apart of each other, making for an exciting finish. In the end, Ellis pulled out her first victory here with a time of 2:21:23. Cave crossed the finish line in second at 2:23:02 on tired legs after competing in last week’s Revolution3 triathlon. Lavelle came next at 2:24:00.

Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon
San Francisco, Calif. – June 14, 2009
1.5-mile swim, 18-mile bike, 8-mile run
Men
1. Andy Potts (USA) 2:07:25
2. David Thompson (USA) 2:09:51
3. Graham O’Grady (NZL) 2:10:37
4. Brian Fleischmann (USA) 2:12:42
5. Victor Plata (USA) 2:13:52
Plus
7. Bryan Rhodes (NZL) 2:14:37

Women
1. Mary Beth Ellis (USA) 2:21:23
2. Leanda Cave (GBR) 2:23:02
3. Becky Lavelle (USA) 2:24:00
4. Kelly Couch (USA) 2:25:39
5. Michellie Jones (AUS) 2:27:43

JOHNSTON ON PODIUM IN GERMANY
New Zealand professional triathlete Merryn Johnston has finished third in the latest Challenge event in Germany, Challenge Kraichgau.

A strong international field lined up for the half Ironman distance race, including multiple Ironman champion Rebekah Keat (AUS), Tiina Bowman (FIN) winner of Ironman Lanzarote 2007; Wenke Kujala (GER) second in last year's event and 3rd in Ironman Germany 2008 and the late registration of multiple Ironman winner Lisbeth Kristensen (DEN).

The day dawned perfectly: cool, calm, sunny. It promised to be hot with temperatures forecast to reach 30 degrees.

The swim took place in a small lake with a water temperature of a comfortable 20 degrees. Rebekah Keat first woman and Lisbeth Kristensen second. Wanaka’s Johnston emerged from the water in the top 10.

The course tested athletes' ability to pace themselves on some tough climbs. In total there were 1200 vertical metres of climbing amongst the forests, old towns, and cobble stoned streets with spectators enthusiastically cheering. The bike course is considered one of the most challenging on the world circuit.

Rebekah Keat, winner of Challenge France a week ago, led from the swim and extended her lead during the bike, whilst further behind her, women jostled for the minor placings with Johnston ending the bike leg in 7th.

The temperature reached the 30 degrees predicted by the time the athletes hit the run, making the 3 lap course all the more demanding. The run became quite congested with 1800 athletes on the small 7km loop.

Rebekah Keat maintained her lead throughout and Lisbeth held on to her 2nd placing, however the surprise of the day was Johnston posting the second fastest run split of the women's field, her 1 hour 27 minutes taking time out of Keat and gaining 3 places to finish just 20 seconds behind second at the line.

Johnston now turns to her main focus, Challenge Roth Germany in mid July but will have a few days recovery from this event before her buildup to Roth begins in earnest.

Challenge Kraichgau
1.8km swim, 90km bike, 21km run
Elite Women
1 Rebekah Keat (AUS) 4:32:59
2 Lisbeth Kristiansen (DEN) 4:40:40
3 Merryn Johnston (NZL, Wanaka) 4:41:25

WHYTE TOP TEN IN BOISE
New Zealand triathlete Jamie Whyte has finished in the top ten in a strong field at the Boise 70.3 Ironman in Idaho this morning.

Whyte has been a training partner to Cameron Brown since arriving in the States in mid-May. This though is the first actual race for Whyte this Northern summer.

The Boise 70.3 Ironman was an afternoon race with a unique 2pm start and featured a strong pro men’s field including current Ironman world champion, Craig Alexander and top American Chris Leito.

Whyte exited the water with fellow Kiwi Liam Scopes. The front swim pack had split so the men’s field was fairly strung out onto the bike. The bike course was very honest with lots of false flats and a couple of hills, strong winds and the occasional torrential downpour. Whyte entered transition two in 6th place.

“The run was stunning,”said Whyte. “Two laps up and down either side of the Boise river and finished in downtown Boise, with a huge crowd lining the streets despite the terrible weather. Dropping one place on the first lap of the run, I held on to 7th during the second lap through to the finish.

“I am happy with my first race over here but I know there is plenty more work to do to become competitive. Now the focus is on recovering well and stepping it up again in two weeks time for the Buffalo Springs 70.3, in Texas.”

Boise 70.3 Ironman
1.8km swim, 90km bike, 21km run
Elite Men
1 Craig Alexander / AUS / 3:51:46
2 Chris Lieto / USA / 3:51:48
3 Joe Gambles / USA / 3:56:24
Plus
7 Jamie Whyte / NZL / 4:02:58
17 Liam Scopes / NZL / 4:13:26

ENDS

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