The only certainties for the George Town triathlon to open the Tasmanian season is a chilly start in the depths of the Tamar and Ali Foot proving a class above the rest.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The October race is quite literally a warm-up for the summer ahead to the extent that going back-to-back was not the Launceston 32-year-old's key mission on Sunday.
"It was pretty cold conditions so it took a while to warm up after the swim. I was pretty happy with how I went actually," Foot said.
"I haven't had a race since May, so it was good to get my head back in the game."
Foot will join good friend Jake Birtwhistle at the Noosa Triathlon next weekend.
The 2012 Olympic squad rower had won the 30-34 age group last year at the multi-sport sport festival.
The Western Sydney Triathlon at the foot of the Blue Mountains in Penrith is also a part of next month's plans.
Foot finished the sprint distance 750m swim, 20km cycle and 5km run in a swift 59 minutes, 58 seconds.
The 2018 winner crossed the line just more than three minutes ahead of Blair Tunevitsch - a one-time national teammate of Foot.
Tom Murton was a further 50 seconds behind in 1:03:51.
ELSEWHERE IN SPORT
Foot's time of just under an hour had Launceston Triathlon Club race organiser Matt Wheatley to remark that it was an outstanding performance considering the cold and overcast conditions.
"It was a very sharp time - anything below an hour is fast," Wheatley said.
"It's been done before, but it's certainly not a regular occurrence by any stretch."
The race for women's honours was much closer when Pia Austin went one better than last year to take the win.
Austin, who also took out the 40-plus age category in addition to the open race, ran to the finish in a time of 1:15:56, nosing 22 seconds ahead from Anna Merton.
Georgia Shepherd claimed third place in 1:18:01.
Christian Sculthorpe was the inaugural winner of the new enticer event at George Town, raced over a 300m swim, 10km cycle and 2km run course.
The Launceston 16-year-old impressed in 38 minutes, 11 seconds.
Evergreen triathlete Penny Armistead proved to be the first female across the line in the enticer race in 40 minutes and 14 seconds.
Subscriptions are available here.
Sign up to our Sport email here.