Hewitt wins bronze and McIlroy gains career high top ten in World Championship Series triathlon
Andrea Hewitt continued her fantastic run of results in the ITU Dextro Energy World Championship Series with a bronze medal in the latest race in Kitzbuhel this morning.
And in a career breakthrough performance Kate McIlroy finished inside the top ten for the first time in her career, coming home in 8th place while Nicky Samuels was 18th and Debbie Tanner 24th.
Christchurch based Hewitt is delighted at yet another podium and a strengthening of her overall ranking.
“It’s really good, I was in third coming in to the series today on overall points so to get third again today it is really good. It all came down to the run, the swim and bike we all stayed together, I think the pack was 35 of us.
“And then I just ran an even pace it felt on the run and I felt good the whole way. I had some kick at the end but not quite enough for Nicola Spirig.”
The race took an unusual twist when Hayley Piersol (USA) took an incredible 1:08 lead out of the water, an almost unheard of margin in an ITU race of this caliber.
The rest of the field split into two chase packs behind Piersol, with Debbie Tanner, Andrea Hewitt and Kate McILroy in the main group while Nicky Samuels was in a second chase group a further minute down.
Slowly but surely though the field came together, with Piersol caught after laps and the second chase group including Samuels catching the leaders on the fourth of eight laps on the tight and technical course.
It then turned into a foot race and while Moffatt was imperious in winning for the third time this year (her second in a World Championship Series race), the battle behind the Aussie was intense the entire journey as Hewitt and McIlroy ran superbly.
For Hewitt this was no surprise but McIlroy found herself at the sharp end of a World Championship race for the first time in a triathlon career that is not yet a year in the making.
“I’m very, very happy. I never expected this that is for sure. The race certainly went my way, the bike was really slow to be honest - I’ve never been in such a slow ride. Usually I am spending the whole time chasing so this was unusual for me. It was a little frustrating as I was constantly on my toes ready to cover any breaks but it never happened. My legs were fresh for run and I felt good although I took a little while to get going, I stayed relaxed and felt good.
“Eighth is just incredible and totally ahead of schedule. I didn’t think I would get in a World Championship race this year to be honest and when I did I thought it would be a good experience. I was hoping for a good swim, I had that today but to finish top ten is a massive added bonus.”
The World Championship Series now moves to Hamburg in two weeks time. www.triathlon.org
ITU Dextro Energy Triathlon World Championship
Kitzbuhel, Austria
Elite Women
Gold Emma Moffatt, (AUS) +00 01:54:38
Silver Nicola Spirig, (SUI) +34 01:55:12
Bronze Andrea Hewitt, (Christchurch, NZL) +39 01:55:17
4 Kathy Tremblay, (CAN) +43 01:55:21
5 Helen Jenkins, (GBR) +49 01:55:27
6 Yuliya Sapunova, (UKR) +50 01:55:28
7 Kate Allen, (AUT) +51 01:55:29
8 Kate McIlroy, (Wellington, NZL) +54 01:55:32
9 Vendula Frintova, (CZE) +01:00 01:55:38
10 Lauren Groves, (CAN) +01:09 01:55:47
Plus NZers
18 Nicky Samuels, (Wanaka, NZL) +02:19 01:56:57
24 Debbie Tanner, (Auckland, NZL) +03:00 01:57:38