Not quite the perfect storm but Aussies boys finish strongly for 5th and 6th
Triathlon Australia, September 18, 2015: Australia’s Matt Hauser and Luke Willian have finished fifth and sixth respectively with strong finishes in today’s ITU Junior World Triathlon Championship in Chicago - converted to a duathlon after a wild electrical storm forced organisers to drop the swim leg.
The race was scheduled to start at 4.30pm but a severe weather warning saw the event postponed until 6:05pm.
Heavy rain and lightning followed and ITU officials escorted the 65-strong field into the foyer of the near-by Congress Hotel until the weather cleared.
The normal 750m swim; 20km bike and 5km run was converted into a two-lap 5km run, four-lap 20km bike and one-lap 2.5km run.
Hauser, Willian and fellow Queenslander Christian Wilson all looked sharp on the first run leg and were all well placed before Wilson, who came into the team for the injured Matt Roberts spun out on the second bike leg lap and crashed.
“I had a crash on the bike unfortunately and it came after the first run when I went into transition in second place, I’d had had a good start,” said Wilson.
“I was sitting in the top five for the first lap but coming into the U turn at the other end of the course I was sitting on second wheel and just slid out unfortunately,
“I ended up with a few grazes and thank goodness it was wet because I just slid, I ended up in the second pack but I definitely wanted to finish my first world championships.”
Wilson, to his credit, battled on to finish in 28th position but it left both Hauser and Willian to take the field on at the front of the pack where the pace was on.
They both looked strong on the first run and hung tough on the bike before the intensity went up a further notch on the final 2.5km lap.
“It was certainly very unpredictable out there today especially with the changed conditions with the duathlon, it was wet and the wheels were slipping everywhere,” said Hauser.
“The boys played it smart and I managed to get on to the second run quite comfortably.
“It was important to stay as calm as possible; I tried to keep a level head with eyes on the prize I guess and despite the disrupted race I have to be happy with my first world championships.
“I am only 17 and have a few more years in the Juniors and you cannot beat the experience.”
Wilson said he was just happy to get the call up.
“I had been training very well and I was over in Europe with Stephen Moss and the QAS squad and I was enjoying that but to then get the call up was just amazing,” said Wilson.
“I felt sorry for Matty Roberts who was injured but with all the boys being so close together for selection, to get to the world championships was really hard.
“Fortunately we’ve all got a similar ability so I was able to fit in quite well.
“Waking up this morning and expecting a triathlon at 4.30 and then being called over to the organisers hotel foyer and to be stuck there for over an hour wasn’t expected.
“ We were at the swim start about to put our wetsuits on and they said there was a storm brewing and it would be delayed a bit longer.
“Guys were doing run throughs on the pavement outside the hotel.”
Junior Men
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1. |
BRA |
00:51:50 |
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2. |
GER |
00:51:51 |
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3. |
FRA |
00:52:01 |
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4. |
ESP |
00:52:08 |
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5. |
AUS |
00:52:10 |
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6. |
AUS |
00:52:12 |
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7. |
NOR |
00:52:16 |
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8. |
GBR |
00:52:20 |
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9. |
CAN |
00:52:24 |
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10. |
SWE |
00:52:32 |
Issued on behalf of Triathlon Australia by
Ian Hanson| Media Manager Triathlon Australia
Ian Hanson| Media Manager Triathlon Australia Managing Director
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