George Town continues to be a happy hunting ground for Ali Foot, capturing his second triathlon title in 18 months at the state’s season opener on Sunday.
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The feat is a further tick for the 2012 Australian Olympic lightweight reserve rower after making the switch since being overlooked at Rio 2016.
He was the first across the line in 57 minutes and 49 seconds from Jack Direen and Rodney Boxhall in the race’s premier open male sprint.
“I had thought it was going to be a tight race,” Foot said after the 750m swim, 20km ride and 5km run event.
Foot’s last triathlon win at George Town had included an ocean swim rather than a dip in the pool at the height of the late 2017 summer.
But swimming laps up and down at the Riverside Aquatic pool in preparation worked for the 31-year-old.
“I think because of that I have improved a fair bit, so I was happy to be in the front pack with the swimmers of the race,” Foot said.
“[The pool] is a really good way of doing it early in the year in Tassie when the sea doesn’t get as warm.”
Foot held his position on the bike to power away on the run leg in under 18 minutes.
Danika Bumford was the first woman to finish George Town ahead of Pia Austin and Icathy La Fauce.
A North-West mother and son both proved too good in the super sprint races.
Jonte Armistead took out the 300m swim, 10km ride and 2.5km run course in front of Hayden Arnold and Benny Parsons. Penny Armistead followed suit from Katherine Mins and Melissa Hughes.
George Town is the first of seven Launceston Triathlon Club events for the summer.
FULL RESULTS
Sprint Distance (750m swim, 20km ride, 5km run)
Open Male:
1st: Ali Foot
2nd: Jack Direen
3rd: Rodney Boxhall
Senior Male:
1st: Martin Simpson
Veteran Male:
1st: Simon Direen
Super Veteran Male:
1st: John Gregory
Open Female:
1st: Danika Bumford
2nd: Pia Austin
3rd: Icathy La Fauce
Junior Female:
1st: Ava Wheatley
Senior Female:
1st: Sarah Ford
Veteran Female:
1st: Heidi Edmiston
Super Veteran Female:
1st: Di Webb
Super Sprint (300m swim, 10km ride, 2.5km run)
Open Male:
1st: Jonte Armistead
2nd: Hayden Arnold
3rd: Benny Parsons
Junior Male:
1st: Jamison Hadley
Senior Male:
1st: Josh Jeffery
Super Veteran Male:
1st: Michael Doron
Open Female:
1st: Penny Armistead
2nd: Katherine Mins
3rd: Melissa Hughes
Junior Female:
1st: Shae Arnold
Senior Female:
1st: Amelia White
Veteran Female:
1st: Fiona Dewit