New Zealanders Maddy Brunton (Waikato) and Sam Osborne (Dunedin) were the best of the Kiwi U19’s at the World Triathlon Championships in Budapest, finishing 13th and 14th respectively in their elite age group categories this morning NZT.
Both raced superbly in near perfect conditions, putting aside their relative inexperience in such strong company to post hugely promising results as they embark on careers that could take them to the top of the sport in the great traditions the sport has in New Zealand for producing world and Olympic champions.
Also in the women’s race Sophie Corbidge (Auckland) showed tremendous courage to finish 32nd just three weeks after having her appendix removed while Maddie Dillon (Auckland) gained valuable experience at the top level, the Auckland school girl coming home in 40th.
In the men’s Youth Olympic champion Aaron Barclay (Southland) finished a creditable 24th while Edward Rawles (New Plymouth) was 37th.
It was near neighbours Australia who dominated again though, winning ITU World Championships in the Elite, Under 23 and Junior (16-19) categories. Only one hour after Emma Moffatt earned her second consecutive Elite world title, 19-year-old Ashleigh Gentle took top honors in the Junior World Championship race, sprinting away from the rest of the field on the 5K run.
The win didn't come easy for Gentle, who started the race in 33rd place after the 750-meter swim in Lágymányosi Bay along the banks of the River Danube. The Aussie found herself with a solid pack of cyclists, however, and was able to ride up to the front group on the 20K bike leg.
Just as teammate Emma Jackson had done in the U23 race a day before, Gentle flew out of the second transition to take the early lead on the run. She never looked back, clocking an amazing 16:42 run split to win in 57:48. Next to cross the line was Germany's Charlotte Bauer, who finished just over one minute back of Gentle. Bauer held off a hard-charging Joanna Brown of Canada, who came from 41st place at T2 to finish third overall.
The men's race was a much tighter contest, coming down to three-man race between Spain's Fernando Alarza, Briton Thomas Bishop and American Kevin McDowell. Alarza had the strongest legs at the end of the run, surging away in the final stretch to take the win in 52:15. Bishop held off McDowell for second, finishing three seconds back of Alarza.
Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Budapest Grand Final
Budapest, Hungary - 12 Sept 2010
750-metre swim, 20K bike, 5K run
Junior Women Results
1. Ashleigh Gentle (AUS) 57:48
2. Charlotte Bauer (GER) 58:52
3. Joanna Brown (CAN) 59:07
4. Kelly Whitley (USA) 59:21
5. Yuka Sato (JPN) 59:29
6. Neiske Becks (NED) 59:34
7. Tanelle Berard (USA) 59:46
8. Theresa Baumgartel (GER) 59:50
9. Amy Roberts (AUS) 59:51
10. Annika Vossing (GER) 59:55
plus NZers
13 Maddy Brunton (Waikato) 59:59
32 Sophie Corbidge (Auckland) 1:01:14
40 Maddie Dillon (Auckland) 1:02:12
Junior Men Results
1. Fernando Alarza (ESP) 52:15
2. Thomas Bishop (GBR) 52:18
3. Kevin McDowell (USA) 52:22
4. Lukas Verzbicas (USA) 52:36
5. Ron Darmon (ISR) 52:36
6. Ryan Fisher (AUS) 52:47
7. Vicente Hernandez (ESP) 52:56
8. Anthony Pujades (FRA) 53:00
9. Matthew Sharpe (CAN) 53:02
10. Andreas Schilling (DEN) 53:06
Plus NZers
14 Sam Osborne (Dunedin) 53:16
24 Aaron Barclay (Southland) 53:37
37 Edward Rawles (New Plymouth) 54:36
