MARRIOTT TOPPLES BATEUP IN DRAMATIC FINISH TO GOLD
October 18: CALOUNDRA Hospital part-time physiotherapist, Alicia Marriott, pulled away from home town favourite Hayley Bateup in the board leg to set up her second win in a dramatic finish to the women's nib Coolangatta Gold today. GRAHAM CALLAGHAN reports from Surfers Paradise.....
Marriott (Mooloolaba) punched the air with both arms as she broke the finishing tape in 3hr15.39sec to claim victory ahead of Kurrawa's three-time champion Hayley Bateup (3:16.05), Courtney Hancock, of Northcliffe (3:18.50), Kurrawa's Jasmin Kelly (3:25.26) and Northcliffe 19-year-old Bonnie Hancock (3:27.8).
The race, held in glorious Gold Coast weather, provided a thrill a minute from the starting gun at Surfers Paradise through to Marriott breaking the winning tape to the applause of fans.
Marriott, 23, who finished seven minutes faster than her victory time in 2007, battled head-to-head with Northcliffe's Liz Pluimers throughout but disaster struck just paces from the finish.
Thousands of spectators grasped in disbelief when Pluimers stumbled and fell from exhaustion just 15m from the finish line after throwing out the strongest of challenges to Marriott throughout the gruelling 30.5k marathon.
Pluimers, 23, was quickly stretchered from the beach and rushed to the emergency hospital tent after starting the race after suffering from deep vain thrombosis in July and August and missing training.
"It was a great effort but Liz was underdone," said her coach Pat O'Keeffe.
"She missed the vital training sessions and the beach run was just too much."
Pluimers was suffering low blood pressure and doctors on site gave her one litre of fluid, iced her body and gave her sports drinks.
She was able to walk away 30 minutes later.
"I remember the first aid people helping me up and then I collapsed again," said a tearful Pluimers almost two hours after the race.
"I actually didn't realise I hadn't finished the race until I heard Hayley (Bateup) talking and I thought 'oh no' I didn't make it across the line.
"I can' believe I went all the way and didn't finish the race - it is so upsetting.
"I pushed myself to the limit and when I got to the soft sand my legs just went from under me. I had nothing left....I remember collapsing and then getting back up before I collapsed again.
"The next thing I remember is waking up in the first aid tent. I tried to push it as hard as I could but I just had nothing left in the end"
Asked if she would be back next year, Pluimers said: "At this stage I would have to say no.....but we'll wait and see."
MARRIOTT MOVE A KING HIT
It was Marriott and Pluimers who broke away from Bateup and Courtney Hancock, 21, in the 4.5k board paddle from Currumbin Creek to Burleigh Heads with Marriott saying they stuck with catching the runners out wide while Bateup and Hancock took the more direct route.
Marriott, who moved from Perth after the last Australian championships to join Mooloolaba so she could train under former Coolangatta Gold winner Michael King,
was full of praise for her new coach.
"Breaking away in the board leg meant that Hayley couldn't jump on our wash in the swim from Burleigh to North Burleigh," said Marriott who missed last year's Gold to complete her physiotherapy studies.
"The swim is our strongest leg and we had to break clear because we know Hayley is a powerful beach runner."
Pluimers actually led Marriott into the swim leg after the Northcliffe star proved too strong in the short run up the beach but she could not hold back the determined Mooloolaba champion once she could sniff a win.
"It's not necessarily about being the best and quickest runner after you have been battling for three hours. You just have to be able to tough it out," said Marriott, who has vowed to return next year looking for her third win.
"Training with a stronger squad has definitely lifted my performance. I train with girls like Allira Richardson, who is a freak board paddler, and Gemma Newbiggin, who is a tough as nails and we are all good mates and continually push each other."
Bateup put in gutsy effort to claim second placing saying she felt a bit flat after the initial 15k ski paddle and could not run at her best from Currumbin to Currumbin Alley-the part of the race which set up her third win last year.
"I should have paddled harder in the board leg but I just didn't have it and decided not to go put too hard," said Bateup.
"I just couldn't catch up in the final run leg......I made up about 1m 30sec but it was not just good enough.
"Five Coolangatta Gold wins is still my goal so I'll be back next year."