"MACCA" WINS WAR OF ATTRITION FOR STRICKEN AUSSIES
TRIATHLON, September 10: Triathlon legend Chris McCormack was the only Australian to finish today's Dextro Energy ITU Triathlon Elite Men's World Champion Grand Final race as the Australian team fought its own war of attrition in Beijing today.
It was a tough day in the office for the Australian men's team who lost rising star Brendan Sexton on the morning of the race with a nasty gastro bug which also added to the early retirement of Beijing Olympian Brad Kahlefeldt after the first run lap.From Ian Hanson in Beijing
The Australians also lost another Beijing Olympian Courtney Atkinson towards the end of the run after he struggled to keep up the pace after a troubled year of niggling injuries.
So it was left to the 38-year-old two-time Ironman World Champion and former ITU Olympic distance World Champion McCormack to carry the Australian flag.
The father of three charged to the finish line in 31st position from a field of 72 starters and for "Macca" - who commands royalty status in the gruelling and internationally competitive world of triathlon - his 31st placing is probably better than it sounds.
On paper there was only 45 seconds between 20th and 31st and two minutes between 10th and 31st.
Considering he gave away almost a minute on the swim and split 31 minutes 20 seconds for his 10km run, there certainly remains light at the end of his Olympic tunnel.
It was a positive finish for McCormack in what has been a tough comeback year as he chases that Olympic dream for London 2012.
But he knows what he has to do if he has any chance of keeping that Olympic dream alive and that's to improve his swim.
"I realise I can't match it with these younger guys if I keep coming out towards the back of the pack in the swim," said McCormack.
"And I am also realistic that I'm never going to come out with the leaders either, but I just have to improve my aerobic capacity."
So what's the answer?
"I'll have to go back to my old swimming coach Dick Caine and get stuck into some serious swimming training," said McCormack.
"You can't survive on 10km a week for 10 years anymore when you're trying to race at this level - these kids are quick. Those Brownlee brothers are amazing.
"The pace of these races compared to years ago has certainly stepped up that's for sure.
"I used to swim with Dick 'back in the day' and it's time to go knocking on the old guy's door again I think."
And McCormack is excited about the future of Australian Triathlon and has enjoyed being part of the Australian Team camp in Europe this year and wants to put as much back into the sport as he can.
"If I can help these young guys achieve their dreams and offer them as much guidance as I can and act as a mentor then that's what I'm going to do," said McCormack.
"I'm already going to run some camps at Cronulla this year with a host of the young guys and I'll support the domestic season and go up and race Noosa and we'll see what happens."
And the Olympics?
"I'll continue to give it a shot that's for sure...and if it doesn't work out then it's off to Ironmman New York," said Macca.
In the short term it's off to Yokohama to race the next round of the ITU World Championships where he will again keep the youngsters and the oldies honest.
Kahlefeldt said it was a toss up whether he was even going to start after he came down with the stomach bug last night and suffered cramping in the warm up.
"I felt OK in the swim and until the end of the bike but then I started to get cold and became quite disoriented and struggled to bend down to put my shoes on for the run," said Kahlefeldt.
"I knew then it was all over and had no alternative but to pull out."
Atkinson admitted he has probably had the worst year ever with little things going wrong.
"I made a decision to try a completely different approach and it was either going to work or it wasn't," said Atkinson, who tried to get himself in the race on the bike.
"I certainly got some positives out of it but I'm more confident than ever in the things I used to do that worked well for me."
Meanwhile teenager Ashlee Bailie brightened up an otherwise cold and miserable day in Beijing with a stunning silver medal in the Junior Women's World Triathlon Championship race.
The 19-year-old Wollongong-based Western Australian pushed eventual winner Mikayla Neilsen from New Zealand all the way to the finish to record her best ever international result with Germany's Hanna Philippin taking bronze.
Bailee relocated to Wollongong to follow her talented broither Ryan under respected NSWIS coach Jamie Turner in January this year and the move has certainly paid handsome dividends.
"I had no expectations coming into this race whatsoever," said a beaming Bailie, who's mother Kerry was her lone voice of family support on a dismal day in the 2008 Olympic city.
"I just wanted to have a good swim, a solid bike and finish it off with a good run and for me it worked out perfectly.
"The weather wasn't a concern at all. It is the same for everyone and you have to expect anything in our sport - it's what it's all about.
"It was so special to perform here in Beijing, which has so much history for Triathlon Australia (after the gold and silver medals won by Emma Snowsill and Emma Moffatt at the 2008 Olympic Games here).
"No matter how hard I tried I just couldn't catch Mikayla towards the finish but for me winning the silver was as good as winning the gold.
"I was just so happy to have my mum Kerry here who has been such a great supporter and who has travelled around Europe watching me compete and having a holiday at the same time.
"It's a nice way to re-pay her for all her support today, I know she'll be so happy."
Bailee will now head to the USA and on to Mexico for her ITU World Cup debut and the start of what she is hoping will be a promising Under 23 career.
Her NSWIS team mates Natalie Van Coevorden did remarkably well to finish 18th after making a stunning recovery when she came off her bike trying to avoid a crash in front of her.
Third Australian Tamsyn Moana-Veale also put on a brave showing after coming down with a stomach bug 48 hours before the race and by the finish was running on empty.