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Victoria's Gatorade Triathlon Series race 1

Victoria's Gatorade Triathlon Series is Australia's premier sprint distance series. The athletes that ventured out for race one of the series were greeted with weather that might be best described as appalling. The wind rolled in and so did the rain as there was serious consideration to some ark building by those who took on the course.

The race organisers were quick to make the decision that there would be no swim with the amount of rainfall. Conditions were no picnic but, as usual, there was a large contingent eager to get the '09/10 season underway.

The local elites were also keen for a payday early in the season and they assembled ready for battle. The ones to watch in this one were newly crowned Australian junior triathlete of the year Jamie Huggett, Peter Kerr, Kris McCartney and Brent Shuster. Throw in Brett Cooper, Jaime Rhodes and Paul Attard and the list was a full one. The women's side of the ledger saw Renee Lane, Madeline Oldfield, Erin Ganglehoff and Elly Franks as the ones to beat.

With the swim gone the opening leg was a 1.5 kilometre run. This was music to the ears of the fleet of foot but the swimmers in the field knew they were in for a tough morning. At 8am the gun went off and so did the elites. A fairly tight bunch kept together for the first run leg. A few got tailed off towards the end of the leg but they were not to be expected to feature in the finish.

The women's field were also bunched but in the last 500m a small explosion occurred spreading out the group. Leading the bike was Renee Lane and Madeline Oldfield. Elly Franks was not having a happy race and got onto the bike some 30 seconds down on the leaders.

The run for the men was always going to be a huge battle with 15 of the top field entering T2 together. Jamie Huggett exited near the front and he was expected to win. With him was another quick runner in Gareth Halverson.

But a surprise was about to happen and that came in the form of Peter Kerr. Kerr, a noted swimmer, showed up to this race in great form. Version 2 of Peter Kerr can run, an ominous sign for the rest of the series. The Kerr run kicked into overdrive propelling him into his first win at the Gatorade Series. A fast finishing Huggett was second with Paul Attard taking third. For Huggett and co this might have been the one that got away. For Kerr it is unchartered territory.

The women's race was coming together with Elly Franks powering her way to the front and reattaching the back group. They too came into transition together. Oldfield lead the charge on the run. But it wasn't to be as Lane stole some time on her competition and then went on to win. Like Kerr, this was her first time on top of the podium and as she crossed the line her comment "about time" showed what an important win this was for her.

Results - Men

1. Peter Kerr
2. Jamie Huggett
3. Paul Attard

Women

1. Renee Lane
2. Madeline Oldfield
3. Erin Ganglehoff
    

A few observations from Race 1

• The weather - This was an obvious one. In short, it was horrible. Some of the gang round the office have said it was the worst conditions in 15 years.
• Jarrod Evans - Evans was the first age grouper across the line and in a class of his own today.
• The guy who might still be in pain - As he went to get on his bike he slipped and his groin stopped his fall as he smashed it on his top tube. Every guy within 100m of the accident winced.
• Peter Kerr - The men's winner has a run leg now.. be afraid.
• Our hats are off to all the competitors today. A true adventure. Well done!

Make sure you check out our interviews with Elite race winners Renee Lane and Peter Kerr below