Good, Turner sprint to conquer Robina
Good’s dominant run leg saw him cross the finish line ahead of Canberra’s Jesse Featonby and Brisbane’s Mitch Kealey, who placed second and third respectively in the sprint distance format (750m swim / 20km cycle / 5km run).
The lead group of males, including Simpson, Kealey, Shaw, Good, Hickey, Featonby, Box and Holdsworth, set a cracking pace in the swim and flew through together to the cycle leg.
A disappointing turn in the wet conditions saw Ben Shaw, winner of Race 3 of the Gatorade Queensland Tri Series, crash half way through the cycle course preventing him to complete the race.
The pack remained tight on the 4-lap cycle course, all putting in the leg-work to enter T2 together proving it would come down to a foot race.
Good set a strong pace with his running form and picked his time well to make a move ahead of Featonby and Kealey on a fast 2-lap run.
“I was really hurting and on the way back Jesse (Featonby)was putting in a few surges but I managed to get him.
“There are certainly a few guys who have been in the sport for a while and are willing to work to secure their spot at the top,” said Good.
Second place getter Jesse Featonby was pleased with his racing efforts at Robina today.
Today’s event was Featonby’s first race of the season as he spent the latter part of 2011 training and competing overseas and is now based on the Gold Coast as part of Triathlon Australia’s Higher Performance camp.
“I moved to the Gold Coast last week to start training up here with a few guys. It’s actually quite funny because Cam (Good), myself and Mitch (Kealey) are all living in the same house together so it was a bit of a laugh out there today.
“This is my first race for the season so I am really looking forward to racing in Geelong (Geelong Olympic Distance Triathlon) in February and the Mooloolaba ITU World Cup as I also did last year. Today was a great way to hit out with some awesome guys here so it was a really good day,” Featonby said.
In the women’s event Sunshine Coast’s Chloe Turner took one step closer to her dream of making the Australian Under 23 Team by claiming victory in front of Brisbane girls Gillian Backhouse and Sarah Crowley.
Open water specialist Danielle DeFranscesco dominated the swim and cycle course however she lost time when she entered T2 too early with still 1-lap of the cycle course to finish. Back on track she maintained a steady pace but once Turner hit the run course the chase was on.
Turner showed no signs of redemption in the looped run course to finish ahead of Backhouse and Crowley. Defrancesco crossed the finish line in fourth place.
“It has been a lot of hard work, I have worked really hard with my coach. I have just come out of the strength training phase in December and we’re getting into speed work now so I am really enjoying it," Turner said.
In the first race of her season Turner has laid the foundations for attaining her goal of selection in the Australian Under 23 team.
“I am gearing up for a big season. Hopefully I will get a good race in Geelong in a couple of weeks which is a sprint distance ITU race so I am working towards making the Under 23 Worlds Team so that’s the goal,” said Turner.
The star studded line up was not just marked on the field today but also amongst the crowd of spectators at this popular venue.
Australian Champion and professional triathlete Brad Kahlefeldt and Under 23 World Champion Emma Jackson were on the side line of today’s race.
“I am down here today watching my younger brother go round today in the age group category. It’s his birthday today so we’re here today to see how he goes.
“Emma (Moffatt) is also down here watching the event this morning. We’ve just been for a long run and now enjoying it down here and watching the action. It’s an amazing turnout today, it’s incredible. We have been down here to a couple of the QTS events and it’s always nice to see the age groupers go round and push hard and the elite guys go well also so it’s a nice day out,” said Kahlefeldt.
While these superstars were enjoying watching the action from the sideline they couldn’t help but wish they were racing today.
“I actually regret not racing today. I really want to be out there and racing with the other girls,” Jackson said.
But it wasn't all about the Open competitors, Race 4 at Robina welcomed two Special Olympic teams including 19-year old Kai Armstrong from Elanora who attended the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens, Greece, taking home gold and silver in athletics.
Armstrong, who has an intellectual disability completed the run leg with team mate Zac Kimber, 22 from Ashmore who tackled the swim leg.
The second team included 18-year old Jasmine Williams, from Arundel and 20-year old Chris Lyons from Southport, both who suffer from autism.
Coach Debbie Jukes was thrilled with the support from the crowd and very proud of the teams.
The event attracted nearly 1650 competitors taking part across the three distances.
The day also included the Fire & Rescue Recruiting Queensland Enticer Triathlon which continues to be a popular choice those just keen on keeping fit and having some fun.
Just for the kids was the Kool Kids Triathlon, again recording numbers covering short distances that any child could manage making it a fun experience – 100m swim, 2km cycle and 400m run.
Overall Results
Open Male
1. Cameron Good Fairlight, NSW 00:59:02
2. Jesse Featonby Lavington, Canberra 00:59:07
3. Mitch Kealy Carina 00:59:31
4. Drew Box Kallangur 00:59:44
5. Jack Hickey Southport 01:00:17
Open Female
1. Chloe Turner Buderim 01:06:23
2. Gillian Backhouse Yeronga 01:07:02
3. Sarah Crowley Brisbane 01:07:10
4. Danielle Defrancesco Burleigh Heads 01:07:26
5. Jenna Fulton Robina 01:08:44
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