The Duathlon State Championships event was held on Sunday, 24 October at Champion Lakes Regatta Centre. 200+ athletes participated in the EXSS Sprint Duathlon testing their endurance in the balmy conditions south of Perth.
Triathletes gave it their all, running and cycling their way to the finish line. Racing took place across three distances including Long Course (750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run), Bolt Course (400m swim, 12km bike, 2.5km run) and Novice (100m swim, 6km bike, 1km run).
Just like the weather, the talent was flaming hot out on the course. With Triathlete of the Year (TOTY) points on the line, both Senior and Junior athletes put on an incredible show of skills.
UWA Triathlon Club athlete Nick Thompson took out top spot in the Male Open category, claiming his spot on the TOTY leaderboard after withdrawing from the State Standard Championships earlier in the season. Hot on his heels was Matt Burton (Oceanic Triathlon Club) who crossed the finish line a close second, followed by Zeke Tinley (Bunbury Triathlon Club) in third. Both Burton and Tinley added to their round 1 success, currently sitting equal first on the TOTY leaderboard.
Hot off a win in the LGM Industries Bunbury City Classic, young-gun Aleisha Wesley (North Coast Triathlon Club) seemed unaffected by the quick turnaround, taking out top spot in the Open Female category for the second week in a row. Right behind her was clubmate Madison Toovey (North Coast Triathlon Club) in second place, and Katherine Ryan (Stadium Triathlon Club) in third place. Athletes Indie Arbuckle (Team XTR) and Jessica Claxton (Team XTR) also added to their earlier success, gaining points on the TOTY leaderboard.
Reigning junior age-group TOTY winners, James Kjellgren-Lewis (Fremantle triathlon Club) and Joshua Neervoort (Fremantle Triathlon Club) had impressive performances in the Long Course race. Not afraid to keep up with the senior athletes, Kjellgren-Lewis and Neervoort finished first and second respectively in the 16-19 category, with Daniel Stewart (EFS Triathlon Club) coming in third.
Emily White (Exceed Triathlon Club) raced her way to first place in the 16-19 female category, claiming points to reach second place on the TOTY leaderboard. Abbie Crew (North Coast Triathlon Club) came in second, and the current TOTY leader, Eva Czislowski (Break Your Limits) placed third.
The next major event on the Triathlon Western Australia calendar is this coming weekend, with the Rockingham Spring Triathlon happening on Sunday, 31 October as part of the Interclub Series.
