Wanaka’s Tony Dodds has finished an agonizing but brave fourth at the ITU Dextro Energy World U23 Triathlon Championships on the Gold Coast of Australia today, missing the podium by just seconds in sapping conditions.
Dodds was prominent throughout, exiting the swim just shy of the lead group but quickly made up time and rode comfortably with the leaders throughout the 40km 8 lap course around the Broadwater waterfront.
The large group quickly splintered on the run, again with Dodds prominent. He ran strongly alongside James Seear (AUS), Franz Loeschke (GER) and Joao Pereira (POR) for the duration, to the great delight of his supporters decked out in ‘team Doddsy’ gear in the stands.
His courageous effort came up short only in the final few hundred metres though when Loschke and Seear broke clear, soon to be followed by Pereira.
Dodds initial disappointment at missing the podium was quickly followed by a degree of pride in a strong performance, one that put him in a strong position to grab a rare medal for New Zealand at this level of racing.
Of the other Kiwis Ryan Sissons ran strongly to finish 14th, Andrew Curtayne was 38th and William Curtayne withdrew early in the run leg.
ITU Dextro Energy World Championship
U23 Men
1500m swim, 40km bike, 10km run
| 1. | Franz Loeschke | GER | 1:46:19 |
| 2. | James Seear | AUS | 1:46:25 |
| 3. | Joao Pereira | POR | 1:46:32 |
| 4. | Tony Dodds | NZL | 1:46:39 |
| 5. | Jonathan Zipf | GER | 1:46:41 |
| Plus NZers | |||
| 14. | Ryan Sissons | NZL | 1:48:06 |
| 38. | Andrew Curtayne | NZL | 1:52:06 |
| DNF | William Curtayne | NZL | |
