Bill Chaffey recovers to win gold despite wrong turn

   Triathlon Australia, June 29, 2014: Despite taking a wrong turn on the bike, four-time ITU World Champion Bill Chaffey recovered to lead Australia's Paratriathletes to a triumphant day at the 2014 ITU Paratriathlon event in Chicago today.

While Commonwealth Games-bound Emma Moffatt produced an improved performance, with the Gold Coast's two-time world champion an encouraging sixth in today's ITU Chicago World Triathlon Series round (Full report below).

But it was Chaffey’s day to shine. The 38-year-old showed why he is regarded as one of the world's finest Paratriathletes with a commanding gold medal performance over his seven opponents in the PT1 Class - all Americans.

Chaffey has been a paraplegic since a 2005 bike accident involving a truck left him with four broken bones in his back, a smashed elbow and pelvis.

The father of two showed all his class to stop the clock at 1 minute 02.04 seconds over the 750m swim in Lake Michigan, the 20km bike (handcyle) and 5km run (wheelchair) in the hot and humid conditions to beat home Krige Schubert (1:03.11) and Geoffrey Kennedy (1:06.53).

“Bill led the swim out of the water and maintained this for the bike although he did make a wrong turn and lost a small amount of time,” said Australia’s Paratriathlon coach Corey Bacon.

“But he recovered and went on to blitz the field, maintaining his lead to record a comfortable win.”

Adding to Australia's medal tally were Yokohama ITU winner, WA's Brant Garvey who won silver in the PT2 class and 2012 London Paralympian in track and field, Jack Swift who won bronze in the PT4 Class.

While Canberra's visually impaired Jonathon Goerlach was a luckless fifth in the PT5 class after suffering a five-minute delay with a puncture.

Garvey was second to Mark Barr (USA) with Giovanni Sasso (Italy) taking bronze while PT4 gold and silver went to Canada's Stefan Daniel and American Chris Hammer.

Gold in the PT5 class went to Aaron Scheidies (USA) from David Barr (Canada) with Maurizio Romeo (Italy) third.

“Jack Swift although suffering with the flu for the past two days was about fifth out of the water with Brant not too far behind,” said Bacon.

“Both boys were in and out of transition pretty quick with Brant having his fastest transition in his short triathlon career, improving by over a minute on his previous transitions.

“After a good ride, Jack was off the bike and in and out like a flash, sitting about fourth overall. Brant was in and another quick transition.

“Jack had a great run considering how he was feeling to finish third while Brant continued his good form to finish second.”

The hard luck story of the day came in the PT5 category with Jonathan Goerlach and his guide Jack Bigmore experiencing an unfortunate puncture four minutes into the bike leg.

“Jack had to run one kilometre down the road to the wheel change over area to get their spare, losing up to five minutes to their competitors.” said Bacon.

“It didn't take the boys long to start catching their competitors one by one but it wasn't enough to get on the podium bit they were still able to run into 5th place.”

Bacon said he and his team “know what is required for World Championships when Chicago hosts the ITU World Championships in 2015.”

“It was a great event and fantastic performances by all the athletes. Certainly well deserved results,” said Bacon.

2014 ITU Chicago Paratriathlon Event
PT1: Bill Chaffey (AUS) 1:02.04 Krige Schubert (USA) 1:03.11) Geoffrey Kennedy (1:06.53)
PT2: Mark Barr (USA) 1:13.09 Brant Garvey (AUS) 1:16.03  Giovanni Sasso (ITA) 1:22.12
PT4: Stefan Daniel (CAN) 1:03.07 Chris Hammer (USA) 1:05.25 Jack Swift (AUS) 1:08.06
PT5: Aaron Scheidies (USA) 1;07.03 David Barr (CAN) 1:09.56 Maurizio Romeo (ITA) 1:10.52

 AAP RESULTS

 2014 ITU Chicago Paratriathlon Event
PT1: B Chaffey (AUS) 1:02.04 K Schubert (USA) 1:03.11) G Kennedy (1:06.53)
PT2: M Barr (USA) 1:13.09 B Garvey (AUS) 1:16.03  G Sasso (ITA) 1:22.12
PT4: Stefan Daniel (CAN) 1:03.07 Chris Hammer (USA) 1:05.25 Jack Swift (AUS) 1:08.06
PT5: A Scheidies (USA) 1:07.03 D Barr (CAN) 1:09.56 with M Romeo 1:10.52 (ITA)

 

Glasgow-bound Emma Moffatt best of Aussies in Chicago

The Gold Coast's two-time world champion Emma Moffatt has finished an encouraging sixth in today's ITU Chicago World Triathlon Series round after she was first off the bike.

Moffatt, who will represent Australia at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next month, put together an impressive swim and drove the lead group hard on the bike.

Wollongong-based American star Gwen Jorgensen ran through the field after giving away over a minute on the bike to win a record sixth ITU gold ahead of Helen Jenkins (GBR) and Juri Ide (Japan).

But Moffatt is sure to be heartened by her race, despite fading on the run early she hung in and will now set herself for the sprint format round in Hamburg just 10 days before the Games (July 25) and will now head to Spain to train.

Jenkins, very much on the comeback trail, after missing most of last year through injury, will race for Wales in Glasgow.

Another encouraging performance came from Australia's Under 23 ITU World Champion Charlottle McShane who was right with Moffatt in the swim and also worked hard on the bike to mix it with the lead bunch, showing good signs to finish 10th.

McShane has been training with Jorgensen in Jamie Turner's Wollongong Wizards group in their Spanish camp in Vitoria.

Recent ITU World Cup winner and Duathlon Under 23 gold medallist, Brisbane's Stephen Moss coached Gillian Backhouse, also showed some positive signs to finish 15th in her WTS debut.

 

 

While Deaflympic representative Melinda Vernon again showed her tenacity to run through the pack to finish 27th.

Vernon, a brilliant runner and former Deafalympic champion and City To Surf winner, was the 50th Australian to receive a Cochlear implant.

After starting out as a swimmer, carving a career as a runner, the girl from Penrith is now very much making a name for herself under the coaching of Darren Smith, in triathlon.

Triathlon Australia National Performance Director, Bernard Savage, was pleased with the improved performance of Moffatt and McShane swim.

“The girls will all be encouraged by their efforts – certainly an improvement for Emma, so that’s a good sign and Charlotte put herself in the game with a great swim,” said Savage.

“Gillian’s first time in a WTS race was a good result for her and she learnt a lot and Melinda was also encouraging.”

 

 

http://www.triathlon.org/news/article/jorgensen_creates_history_winning_in_chicago

Elite Women

1.	Gwen Jorgensen	USA		01:55:33
2.	Helen Jenkins	GBR		01:55:53
3.	Juri Ide	JPN		01:56:00
4.	Annamaria Mazzetti	ITA		01:56:56
5.	Charlotte Bonin	ITA		01:57:04
6.	Emma Moffatt	AUS		01:57:08
7.	Kirsten Sweetland	CAN		01:57:08
8.	Vendula Frintova	CZE		01:57:18
9.	Lisa Perterer	AUT		01:57:25
10.	Charlotte McShane	AUS		01:58:03