Noosa Triathlon
The 29th Noosa triathlon, the second largest in the world, took place under perfect conditions on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. With a competitive field in both men’s and women’s sides the competition was shaping up to rival the weather with particular interest on whether Courtney Atkinson could win his fourth Noosa title in a row – and how Chris McCormack would fare – along with new women’s Ironman 70.3 World Champion Melissa Rollison stepping down in distance to challenge world fourth ranked Emma Jackson over the Olympic Distance race.
Mens Race
A field of 35 men started...with the usual ‘creeping’ on the line...but it wasn’t until the turnaround buoy where the pack really split up, with uber swimmer Clayton Fettell leading the group, and McCormack being dropped to eventually come out a minute behind. The leading pack of 15 or so athletes, including all the main contenders, hit T1 in a storm and started the ride together with no one giving an inch.
The group remained in tact up Noosa hill, and on to the turn around point at Cooroy where it looked like it would come down to a running race. But it was here that the heat was turned up and the race ripped apart. Doing a lions share of the work, James Seear was putting even known cyclist Fettell to the sword and worked the group over with only David Dellow, Paul Matthews and Fettell able to keep up – the rest of the group was dropped, including race favourite Atkinson.
The lead four had opened a large gap by T2 – well over a minute – and after a small change up in transition Matthews led the group, closely followed by Seear, Fettell and Dellow a few seconds later after a slow transition. Money was being put on Matthews to maintain his great US form and hold his lead, but Dellow had other things to say and pulled up to Fettell and Seear by 2km, and then into the lead by 4km. From there on he maintained his lead and showed his excitement well before the finish line, being the first local athlete in the history of the event to win, with Mathews coming in for second and James Seear running on for third. McCormack came in 101th and Atkinson faded to 14th.
Marking a highlight in his career, Dellow was ecstatic with his win but it only marks a lead-up race for the ITU World Long Course championships in one weeks time, and the long term goal of IM Melbourne, Frankfurt and Kona in 2012.
Women’s Race
A smaller field of 13 women took to the water, with a mix of short and long course athletes, including two stars of the ITU World Championship Series in Emma Jackson and Kate McIlroy. The field quickly split apart and Jackson opened a break that she held until T1, being clear of the field through T1 and onto the bike. A small group lead by Kiwi Kate McIlroy followed soon after, but it was not until 2:40 mins later that Melissa Rollison came into T2, leaving a lot of work ahead for the bike leg.
Emma Jackson maintained her lead over McIlroy in the 30-40sec range to the turn around, and on the return. But as she neared T2 it would be Rollison who was the BIG mover through the field and as they dismounted she was right on the heels of Jackson, with McIlroy 40 sec later. Demonstrating her ITU experience, Jackson was quicker through T2 and led onto the run by 5 sec with Rollison charging hard behind her, setting up a great run race.
Rollison closed the gap to Jackson by the 2km point, after which they ran in close contract until 4km where Rollison put in a surge that cleared her away from Jackson, into the lead for the first time in the race. The day was heating up but Rollison was strong and cleared away from Jackson, and held her lead to the finish, improving her fourth placing last year with an outstanding win. But rather than gloriously breaking the tape, a slip right before the line sent Rollison head first under the tape, sprawled on the ground on top of the finish line wondering what happened. However there was no doubt that her star rose even higher today, leading Emma Jackson over the line by 44 sec, and McIlroy in third.
Showing the strain of the effort, Rollison was in great distress and carted off for medical attention...a stressful end to an otherwise spectacular season. One wonders what she might be capable of if she was able to improve her swim to the ITU level, but regardless a stellar career has commenced and we are sure to be hearing more of Melissa Rollison in the future.
Men
David Dellow – 1:46:36
Paul Matthews – 1:47:01
James Seear – 1:47:42
Clayton Fettell – 1:47:49
Ryan Fisher – 1:48:14
Byrce McMaster – 1:48:48
Clark Ellice – 1:49:21
Ryan Sissons – 1:50:04
Joseph Lampe – 1:51:04
Chris McCormack – 1:51:37
WomenMelissa Rollison – 2:00:25
Emma Jackson – 2:01:09
Kate McIlroy – 2:01:46
Felicity Sheedy-Ryan – 2:04:03
Matilda Raynolds – 2:08:28
Belinda Granger – 2:08:56
Ellie Salthouse – 2:09:01
Lisa Marangon – 2:09:30
Tara Prowse – 2:10:40
Chloe Turner – 2:10:51
Courtney Atkinon's bike video
Emma Jackson's bike video
Melisson Rollinson's Noosa finish
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