Kate McIlroy announced her return to top level triathlon with a superb second place at the ITU Asian Cup Triathlon in Seoul overnight New Zealand time, a result that was backed up equally impressively by four other Kiwis in the top 14.
Meanwhile in New Orleans Kris Gemmell and 19 year old Michael Poole were making the best of a weather affected race in the new 5150 Series, both recording top five finishes.
McIlroy has been working hard in training after an off season dominated by surgery to her Achilles Tendons, surgery that required a patient and measured return as the former world mountain running champion slowly but surely increased the load on her lower limbs.
McIlroy was only outrun on the day by eventual winner Hideko Kikuchi (JPN), posting 36:36 for the ten kilometre run after posting steady swim and bike legs to finish ahead of the well performed Juri Ide (JPN) on the tough Seoul course that was made even harder thanks to a shifty piece of work from a competitor.
"I had a really bad start and was pretty gutted when I felt my wetsuit zip get pulled down. I thought I could keep swimming, but with the Hahn River gushing into my suit I was turning into lead weight. I stopped to try and zip it up, was a little panicky and only managed to get it half way zipped as most of the field swam past me. I thought this would be enough, swam another 10 strokes, realised I wasn't getting anywhere, so stopped again and managed to zip it up completely. I now had a bit of ground to make up. There was also a massive current so managed to tuck in on a few feet and make up a few places. My second lap was pretty good, managing to come out of the water in 5th position.
"Out onto the run, I didn't have the fastest transition with the two Japanese girls, Ide and Kakuchi flying out at a roaring pace. The put a 30m gap on me straight away. I thought I must have been a bit sluggish, but when I found I went through the first 1 kilometre in a handy 3 minutes 15 seconds, I had to really concentrate on holding my own pace otherwise there could have been a possible explosion.
"I held the gap to the two at the front for most of the race. On the last lap, I started closing in on them, managing to pass Jure Ide with 1km to go. I am really happy with the result. It was great to get through the run pain free and finish my first race of the season on the podium."
McIlroy didn't lack for Kiwi company either as every other New Zealander put in an impressive shift. Up and coming youngsters Teresa Adam (Auckland), Rebecca Kingsford (Waikato) and Simone Ackerman (Whangarei) came home 7th, 8th and 13th respectively while former World Junior champion Rebecca Spence (Auckland) made her return to the sport with a solid 11th place finish on the back of typically strong swim and bike legs.
Wellington's McIlroy underwent surgery on both of her Achilles tendons in the New Zealand summer as she looked to once and for all resolve issues that have dogged the popular 29 year old her entire career. The surgery has at last allowed McIlroy to train and race pain free as she chases a place at the London Olympic Games next year.
Gemmell And Poole Top Five In New Orleans
Meanwhile Kris Gemmell and Michael Poole flew the Kiwi flag proudly at the 5150 Triathlon in New Orleans, Gemmell finishing second and Poole fourth in a race that was turned into a duathlon as a result of high winds at Lake Pontrachain on race day.
The first run of approximately 3km was run very quickly by Ben Collins and Kris Gemmell who got a gap on the field. 19 year old Poole quickly rode through to second and held that spot until right near the end of the cycle when US triathlon legend Chris Leito came past. Poole rode the non drafting 40km in 55.24 on a windy and undulating course to come off the bike in 3rd place behind Collins and Leito.
Onto the run Gemmell charged through into second place but could not catch the flying Collins. Poole caught and passed Leito and ran in 3rd until the last 800m before being caught by British athlete James Hadley and American James Burns. Australian Clayton Fettell (5th at Ishigaki World Cup 2010) was 6th.
Poole commented afterwards on a hard day's racing.
"The change to the duathlon format certainly made the last run seem hard. These races are so tough as it is all on your own and no possibility of a bunch to hide in. That, along with competing against the likes of Collins, Gemmell, Fettell and Leito means that you really dig deep for the entire race."
The race is part of a new 5150 Series that will culminate in the rich finale at the Hy Vee ITU World Cup race at Des Moines with athletes qualifying to start at Des Moines throughout the 5150 Series of events. Athletes can count their best three scoring results from throughout the 5150 Series to earn one of twenty starting spots at Des Moines, a race that carries a prize pool of in excess of one million dollars.
Results: ITU Asian Cup Triathlon: Seoul, Korea
1500m swim, 40km bike, 10km run
Elite Women
1 Hideko Kikuchi JPN 2:07:46
2 Kate McIlroy NZL 2:07:59
3 Juri Ide JPN 2:08:27
Plus NZers
7 Teresa Adam NZL 2:10:16
8 Rebecca Kingsford NZL 2:10:45
11 Rebecca Spence NZL 2:11:54
13 Simmone Ackerman NZL 2:14:15
Results: 5150 Triathlon, New Orleans
(Changed to duathlon format due to high winds)
3km run, 40km bike, 10km run (non drafting)
Elite Men
1 Benjamin Collins USA 1:39:30
2 Kris Gemmell NZL 1:40:37
3 James Hadley GBR 1:42:03
4 James Burns USA 1:42:18
5 Michael Poole NZL 1:42:39
