Cloncurry’s Heat triathlon lived up to its name with hot temperatures meaning there were few personal best times but it was a good outing ahead of the Julia Creek Dirt N Dust festival in two weeks’ time.
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The event was held over three distances: Olympic, sprint and enticer and there were over 70 athletes including junior splashing in Chinaman Dam then pounding the streets of Cloncurry before the welcome finish line outside the PCYC.
In the Olympic distance 11 brave swimmers, riders and runners swam 1.5km, cycled 40km and ran 10km with Cloncurry triathlon president Leon Bennett running a good race finishing second to Mount Isa triathlete Mark Thinee.
“Mark had the field well covered,” Leon said.
There was a local winner in the sprint event which is a 750m swim, a 20km cycle and a 5km run.
Kit Rix was first across the line with Steve Derrick second and Mace Bennett third.
It was a first time win in the event for Rix.
“I did it last year and came second,” he said.
It wasn’t a PB run, Rix said he “had a lot more work to do there” though he admitted the heat was a factor.
“There was a headwind on the way out on the bike and a nice tailwind on the way back,” he said.
I’ll do the Dirt N Dust and then the Cairns Ironman on the eleventh of June, I’m building up towards that.”
Rix said the course was tough but he was pleased with his performance.
Mount Isa’s Michelle Ball was the fastest woman in the sprint event.
Ball said the conditions were tough and she struggled a bit with the changes to the course from last year.
“I went to Mooloolaba last weekend and I think the legs are a little bit fatigued from that,” she said.
I ended up 15th out of 100 girls in my age group so I was happy with that especially with the heat and humidity – I’m used to the dry heat.”
Bennett said he was pleased by how the day went.
“I had comments back from everyone it was a good day,” he said.
Bennett said the CurryCats would continue their preparation for Dirt N Dust with a contingent going to Mount Isa on Sunday for the third and final race to the creek.
I went to Mooloolaba last weekend and I think the legs are a little bit fatigued from that
- Michelle Ball
That race kicks off at Lake Moondarra at 7am.