Summer really turned it up at Whitford Nodes Park for the Coastal Quest Triathlon on Sunday, December 8, 2024. Hosted by XTR Multisports, this adrenaline-charged event had something for everyone, featuring races like the Bolt, Draft Legal, Sprint, Duathlon, Aquabike, and the Kids Triathlon.
The Sprint distance event was the highly competitive Triathlon WA Senior State Sprint Championship, while the Draft Legal distance acted as a State Series race for juniors aged 16-19, and the Bolt distance for 12-15 year olds.
With temperatures rising and spirits soaring, athletes of all ages embraced the challenge, delivering a day filled with passion, perseverance, and plenty of personal triumphs. The competition was intense, the atmosphere electric, and the community support undeniable!
Congratulations to all 560+ athletes who raced!
DRAFT LEGAL
The Draft Legal distance was the first State Series race of the 2024/25 season for our junior athletes aged 14-19 years. 42 amazing juniors were at the start line poised for an incredible race.
MALES
Jack Wicks (Mandurah) made an explosive start, emerging first from the 300m swim in a lightning-fast 00:04:17.52. A close chase ensued as Lachlan El Ansary (non-club), Luke Williams (North Coast), Ivan Nagel (EFS), and Liam Johnson (XTR) sprinted into T1 just seconds behind.
On the bike course, Nagel showed his strength, crushing the 14km distance in 20:57.38—over a minute faster than his competitors—and heading into T2 with a commanding lead.
The final 3km run brought fierce competition between Nagel and Caide Ellis (Mandurah). Step for step, the two athletes battled it out, with Ellis clocking the fastest run split at an incredible 00:10:30.32. However, Nagel’s consistency and strength across all legs secured the gap and his victory, placing first overall in a time of 00:38:16.45. Ellis finished in second with a strong 00:38:42.16, while El Ansary’s impressive performance earned him third in 00:39:13.33. Fremantle’s Cooper Smeulders showcased his talent as the fastest 14-15-year-old, finishing fourth overall, with clubmate Rhys Cameron completing the top five.
FEMALES
Ella Rayner (North Coast), Ava Henville (Exceed), and Isabella Neervoort (Fremantle) made waves early at the Coastal Quest Triathlon, exiting the water within seconds of each other after a swift 300m swim. Rayner led the pack with the fastest swim split of 4:52.17, closely followed by the others and fellow North Coast-ian Gemma Gorton as they raced into T1.
On the bike, Henville dominated the 14km course, clocking a lightning-fast time of 23:10.92—over a minute ahead of her closest competitor, Olivia Smith (EFS). Meanwhile, Rayner kept the pressure on, making her presence felt heading into T2 as the field vied for podium positions.
Ava Henville continued her dominant performance, blazing through the run course in an impressive 11:33.64 to secure victory with a total time of 42:02.26. Olivia Smith delivered a strong run of her own, holding her position to finish second in 43:57.16. Lucy Henville, who started the race in eighth after the swim, showed incredible determination on the bike and run legs, closing the gap to claim third overall with a time of 44:49.34, just seconds behind Smith. Ella Rayner and Gemma Gorton rounded out the top five with strong performances across all legs.
TOP 3 BY AGE GROUP
| Place | Male 14-15 | Female 14-15 | Male 16-19 | Female 16-19 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cooper Smeulders | Olivia Smith | Ivan Nagel | Ava Henville |
| 2 | Luke Williams | Lucy Henville | Caide Ellis | Gemma Gorton |
| 3 | Liam Johnson | Ella Rayner | Lachlan El-Ansary | Megan MacPherson |
SPRINT – OPEN
MALES
The race was off to a blistering start as Kurt Wesley (North Coast) powered through the 750m swim, emerging from the water first in 9:43.07. Hot on his heels, Reece Harris (Mandurah) made a swift transition, sprinting up the beach and past the timing mat in an incredible 9:42.86, narrowly edging ahead. This electric start set the tone for what would become a thrilling neck-and-neck battle throughout the race.
Christophe Gardner (non-club), Rhys Williams (North Coast), and Queenslander Kye Wylde were not far behind as they headed into T1 and onto the bike.
With just one second between their transition times, Harris and Wesley blasted onto the 20km bike course together, matching each other’s pace with every pedal. The competition was fierce, with both athletes pushing their limits at breakneck speed. Spectators at the event would agree; the boys were flying.
With only milliseconds between their cycle times—Wesley clocking 29:53.54 and Harris 29:53.72—the race was neck and neck as they set off on the 5km run. It was anyone’s game. For Wesley, this race was deeply personal; after years of chasing the top spot and multiple second-place finishes, he was determined to claim victory. Drawing on that motivation, he delivered an incredible performance on the run to break away and cross the finish line first in 58:37.14. Harris was just steps behind, finishing a remarkable race in second place with a time of 58:54.47.
Gardner surged into third place with an impressive run, crossing the line in 1:00:32.01. Kye Wylde claimed fourth, while Rhys Williams rounded out the top five with a strong finish.
Paralympian David Bryant (Stadium) crossed the line in 6th, taking a moment at the finish to share a hi-five with his wife and kids. Paul Mackay (ADF), Ronan Hays (Mandurah), Tommaso Puccini (UWA), and Joshua Fletcher (Exceed) followed across the line in that order, each finishing this challenging Sprint course strong.
Fastest Splits:
– 750m Swim: Reece Harris – 00:09:42.86
– 20km Bike: Kurt Wesley – 00:29:53.54
– 5km Run: Kye Wylde – 00:16:21.74
FEMALES
Sian Munks (UWA) was a force to be reckoned with in the swim, swimming like a fish and exiting the water to T1 in just 00:10:08.79. Jaz Hedgeland (Fremantle) and Madi Toovey (North Coast) were less than 20 seconds behind, followed by Ella Phelan (Stadium).
Toovey easily made up that 20 second gap on the bike, flying through the course in 00:33:24.51, with Munks now 20 seconds behind her. Hedgeland maintained her third position, with Phelan now three minutes behind the leader heading into T2.
Toovey had a faster transition time and an early lead on the run and legged it out onto the course. It was a nail-biting chase as Munks paced herself to try and outlast Toovey across the 5km course. The two battled fiercely for prime position, with Hedgeland and Phelan also closing in. They were nearly step for step and lap for lap.
In the end, it was Munks’ run prowess that allowed her to claw back the lead and claim the win with a time of 1:05:17.68. Toovey pushed hard but finished just behind in second place with an impressive 1:06:12.56. Jaz Hedgeland delivered a strong performance to cross the line in third at 1:06:37.08, followed by Phelan in fourth – rounding out the Open field.
Fastest Splits:
– 750m Swim: Sian Munks – 00:10:08.79
– 20km Bike: Madison Toovey – 00:33:24.51
– 5km Run: Sian Munks – 00:18:58.50
BRYNT MCSWAIN TROPHY
2024 marked the 10th anniversary of honoring Brynt McSwain, a beloved Triathlon WA member and former State Champion, who tragically passed away in 2014. Each year, the Brynt McSwain Trophy is awarded to the fastest Open Male at the State Sprint Championship. The 2024 winner was Kurt Wesley.
Continuing a heartfelt tradition, Brynt’s mother, Snow McSwain, presented the award. This year was especially meaningful, with Brynt’s brothers Dayan and Tych also competing.
For Wesley, this win carried deep significance. Having grown up idolising Brynt, he has been inspired by him throughout his career. It was a personal goal to have his name engraved on the trophy, and at the finish line, emotions ran high as he shared a teary hug with Snow.
Snow thanked the community and shared a message to all competitors from Brynt, a motto he lived his life by.
“Be adventurous – take a risk. Be courageous – face your fears. Be strong – never give in. Have faith and believe in yourself. Your life is what you make of it, so make it what you want it to be. Don’t just imagine, create. Don’t just believe, achieve.”
FASTEST AGE GROUP SPLITS
| Leg | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Swim | Joshua Pedlow – 16-19 00:10:18.24 | Emma Moon – 40-44 00:11:59.41 |
| Bike | Bart Hollemans – 50-54 00:30:55.58 | Melanie Wade – 35-39 00:35:08.68 |
| Run | Brett Johnson – 40-44 00:18:00.91 | Sophia Economo – 25-29 00:20:52.61 |
2024/25 SPRINT STATE CHAMPIONS – ALL AGE GROUPS
| Age Group | Male Winner | Female Winner |
|---|---|---|
| Open | Kurt Wesley | Sian Munks |
| 20-24 | Andrew Flint | Lily Van Raay |
| 25-29 | Darcy Ovens | Sophia Economo |
| 30-34 | Jacob Azzarello | Donna Kimpton |
| 35-39 | Iain Miller | Melanie Wade |
| 40-44 | Brett Johnson | Emma Moon |
| 45-49 | Greg Manning | Andrea Hopkin |
| 50-54 | Bart Hollemans | Emma Leonard |
| 55-59 | Russell Harris | Katherine Ryan |
| 60-64 | Darryl Harris | Lise Ashton |
| 65-69 | Barry Silverlock | Joy Johnson |
| 70-74 | – | Sandy Tindale |
| 75-79 | Doug Adams | – |
PODIUM GALLERY
