Gatorade Triathlon Series - Race 5 Elwood
The highlight for the morning were the 6 CFA (Country Fire Authority) teams who were racing. No doubt they were stoked to be away from the pressures of fighting fires of and focusing on something different.
The National Championships in Tasmania today heavily depleted both the men's and women's fields. In saying that there were still some very slick individuals who were eyeing off a podium spot. In previous years the Gatorade Triathlon Series in Victoria has been the playground for some of the best athletes in the world and indeed the up and comers. Names like Roberston, Legh and Carney have all dominated the series.The new breed of juniors are now taking up the challenge and names like Chisolm, Deveson and Lindsay King just may well be the next big thing in the sport of triathlon.
The men's race was an essay in controlled fury by Kris McCartney. McCartney has had a series of misadventures this season and finally got it right to do the damage today. He's an interesting cat Kris McCartney. When he brings his 'A' game he is a good swimmer, hang tough cyclist and superb runner. When he doesn't, well let's face it, you might get anything.
Today the status quo returned and McCartney returned to the man of old and promptly smashed the field to run away with the win. We should also note that Kris applis the 'A' game more often than not. Post race he said it had been a long time coming and admitted that 2008/9 hadn't been the greatest ever. But he is a talented guy and knows only too well that both form and good luck are just around the corner.
For the women it was going to be a case of mission impossible. Simply because of an athlete named Erin Densham. Densham needs no introduction. She is fast and tough and above all smart. Densham races with her legs and her brain. Kudos must go to Grace Deveson who joined Densham on the bike and stuck to her guns during that leg. It paid off with the two of them up the road when they came into T2. But there the fun stopped.
Densham had had enough of her brave persuer and took off in search of another victory. It must have been tough for the pluck Deveson. When you think about the names that Densham has raced and beaten the local athletes find it hard to compete. Densham is a bone fide rock star in the sport of triathlon. Well known, talented and marketable it is only a matter of time before you think she is going to seriously emerge. Never getting out of second gear toady Densham cruised across the line with time to spare.
In other things we saw this morning -
- Bike bling is alive and well at the GTS. So many tricked up steeds it makes your head spin!
- Jared Lindsey King is a little champ. Seeing him on the podium today in the ITU Junior event was hilarious given that he was spotting his fellow competitors about 35kg in weight!
- Paul McMaster finally got beaten in the clydesdale category. The first time in years!
- CFA teams out and about. Good on you guys!
- Mick Varker and Pete Treppo. Two amazing athletes who get faster as they get older.
- Anyone who raced the 70.3 in Geelong last weekend and then backed up today... solid!
- Kris McCartney
- Nathan Barry
- Stuart Walpole
Women
- Erin Densham
- Fiona Turner
- Grace Deveson
