Saturday February 21

Australians Liz Blatchford and Brad Kahlefeldt are the 2004 ITU Oceania Champions following a great day of Triathlon competition at the 20^th annual ITU Devonport International.

This was a race with many sub plots. For a large contingent of New Zealand triathletes Devonport provided the opportunity to be selected to represent their country at the Olympic Games. For the Australians, the 6^th and final spot on the national team for the ITU World Championships in Madeira in May was up for grabs.

Added to the selection incentive was the opportunity for vital world ranking points, the Oceania title and the chance to join the honor roll in one of Australia’s longest running and most prestigious races.

Blatchford, World Ranked #1 Barb Lindquist and Nicole Hackett (AUS) emerged from the water together and rode the 8-lap course in a well organized manner sharing the work load and ensuring that all three could be on the podium. Annabel Luxford (AUS), Leanda Cave (GBR), Maxine Seear (AUS) were not so well organized. Annabel Luxford rode alone whilst Maxine Seear would have regretted not quite getting on to the front group after a swim transition that found herself in a pack that included Felicity Abram and the Kiwis Samantha Warriner and Sharnelle Barrett.

The leaders ran hard with the lead changing on several occasions. Hackett and Blatchford were in a personal battle for the final spot on the world championships whilst Lindquist was looking to win her third Devonport Triathlon in the last 4 years. Ultimately Blatchford prevailed chased by a never say die Lindquist and Nicole Hackett who gave the race all she had.

Maxine Seear and Felicity Abram raced head to head throughout the run and in the end Abram, the under 23 World Champion had too much speed in the final kilometer. Samantha Warriner will be in Athens, as she won the battle with Barrett and Debbie Tanner, which was one of the highlights of the event. For Barrett it was a genuine case of so close yet so far, as Warriner crossed the line an agonizing 5 seconds in front. Samantha McGlone (CAN), Mirinda Carfrae (AUS) and Annabel Luxford all finished in the top 10.

Great Britain’s Richard Stannard led the men from the water. Early in the bike leg there were opportunities for a number of groups to make a break but in the end it was the bold riding of Richie Cunningham (AUS) and Nathan Richmond (NZL) that captured the crowd’s imagination.

At times their lead over a large chase pack that included all the favourites extended to nearly a minute and a half however when they came into transition for the run they had just on a minute from a chasing group that had lost Hamish Carter and Andrew Johns but included Miles Stewart who had come to Devonport in a final attempt to make his 16th ITU Triathlon World Championships.

2002 ITU under 23 World Champion Brad Kahlefeldt and Stewart both produced tactically astute races, reeling in the leaders late in the run before settling into a hard fought and sustained run to the line. Kahlefeldt had the pace and was an impressive winner in a strong field with Stewart just 5 seconds behind. As Kahlefeldt as already been selected for the Australian World Championship team Stewart was able to start planning for his next world championships.

The fact that Cunningham and Richmond were able to finish 3^rd and 4^th respectively is testament to the effort they expended chasing their respective dreams. Cunningham came so close and one would think next years world titles beckon and Richmond was rewarded for his courage with an Athens berth ahead of fellow New Zealanders Kris Gemmel and Shane Reed who both had top 10 finishes. Australians Bryce Quirk, Craig McKenzie and Crag Alexander all made the top 10 which was rounded out by swim leader Richard Stannard.

Following presentations to the ITU Oceania Champions at the Devonport Convention Centre the traditional post race party at the neighbouring Irish Pub got into full swing.

Malcolm Wells

Devonport Triathlon Association.