Two Gold, Two Silver at Nancy ITU World Duathlon Championship
Another day, another four elite medals at an ITU World Championship. That's what happens when you are away for the day at the London Triathlon! Perhaps important to note is that such success has become the norm in recent years - but we shouldn't take it for granted.
The ITU World Duathlon Championship in Nancy, France was the event this time and in Katie Hewison, we had the defending senior elite ladies champion. No repeat for Hewison this year, as Australia's Felicity Sheedy-Ryan took the title. The trio of Sheedy-Ryan, Hewison and perennial Duathlon World medal winner Sandra Levenez (FRA) broke away from the field on the technical 40km circuit, the battle for medals coming down to the final 5km run. Sheedy-Ryan took the lead early on the run, but Hewison was more than able to hold on to the silver medal position.
No defence of her 2011 title then, but the TriGold scheme athlete was still pleased with her race. Speaking to ITU media she said: “The first run was very, very fast,” Hewison said. “I’m really pleased with my second place. Last year I think I was a little bit fitter on the run, but I had a stress fracture after the race. This year, I’m healthy, but maybe just a little bit less fit. But, saying that, I’m really pleased.”
For the British men, Philip Wylie was an excellent sixth, just 25 seconds away from the bronze medal with Mark Buckingham 11th (1:41:56), just ahead of multiple World Duathlon medal winner Rob Woestenborghs (BEL). The race won by Emilio Martin (ESP), for most an outsider for the win before the race.
The Junior event saw TWO British World Champions - and a quite amazing season for Richard Horton. His first ever duathlon was the British Champions in March this year - he won - and he then went on to win the European Junior Champs too. Spotting such talent I interviewed Richard in May where he told me "I want to be a champion and to achieve success on a global scale", but was also conscious after his European win "I'll have to see what it's like to be a marked man at an international championship." A champion not just in the making then - British, European and World Junior Duathlon Champion. Quite a season for young Mr Horton.
Liam Lloyd finished eighth and Calum Johnson 17th.
Not to be outdone, the British female Juniors took Gold AND Silver. Georgina Schwiening now has World Silver to add to her European Silver and British Junior Duathlon Gold, but if peaking for the big events is the objective, Georgia Taylor-Brown certainly has 'Junior athlete of the year' contender status. Against perhaps favoured team mates, Georgia won the European Junior Triathlon Championships in Eilat, and to that she has now added World Junior Duathlon Champion. We'd also interviewed Georgia this year. Quite a season for your Miss Taylor-Brown too!
Elite
MEN: RESULTS / triVIEWER - WOMEN: RESULTS / triVIEWER
Pos
Men
Ladies
1st
Emilio Martin (ESP) 1:40:40
Felicity Sheedy-Ryan (AUS) 1:52:43
2nd
Antoine Duvivier (BEL) 1:40:43
Katie Hewison (GBR) 1:53:42
3rd
Benoit Nicolas (FRA) 1:40:47
Sandra Levenez (FRA) 1:54:20
UNDER-23: RESULTS / triVIEWER
Pos
Men
Ladies
1st
Thomas, Andre (FRA) 1:41:08
Alexandra Cassan Ferrier (FRA) 1:56:44
2nd
Albert Moreno Molins (ESP) 1:41:39
Sofie Hooge (BEL) 1:59:36
3rd
Felix Duchampt (FRA) 1:42:02
Melina Alonso (ESP) 2:00:13
JUNIOR: RESULTS / triVIEWER
Pos
Men
Ladies
1st
Richard Horton (GBR) 49:42
Georgia Taylor-Brown (GBR) 58:27
2nd
Matthias Steinwandter (ITA) 49:44
Georgina Schwiening (GBR) 58:40
3rd
Bob Haller (LUX) 49:56
Jeanne Lehair (FRA) 58:59