ADF triathletes finished second, fifth and eight in the men’s event, and fourth and sixth in the women’s at the recent Arafura Games in Darwin.
RAAF’s Cpl Geoff Hanckel was the first ADSTA member out of the water, followed closely by OCdt Ben Monaghan (RAAF) and WO2 Gav Wickham.
New Caledonian David Esposito entered the run with a slight lead over Cpl Hanckel in second with WO2 Wickham fourth.
As the run leg developed, Cpl Hanckel kept the leader well in his sights, though conditions began to affect WO2 Wickham and the gap between third and fourth began to widen. Army’s Cpl Cameron Kuziemko and OCdt Monaghan looked strong as they began the run.
By this stage WO2 Shelley Foster and Jodi Barker (APS) were involved in their own battle on the bike in the women’s event, with WO2 Foster going into T2 with a handy lead.
Half way through the run, Cpl Hanckel began to take some time off the leader as did WO2 Wickham, taking 12 seconds off the third-placed competitor in the second lap of a three-lap course.
Going into the final lap, Cpl Hanckel was gaining on the leader and as they headed to the final turn, only 10 seconds separating them, however, Esposito hung on to win, with Cpl Geoff Hanckel second for the second time, by a mere 15m.
WO2 Wickham finished fifth.
Flt-Lt Richard Gardiner left the water 8min 50sec behind the leaders but produced the fastest run time to finish eight overall.
The women continued their battle and half way through the run Jodi Barker passed WO2 Foster to finish fourth and sixth respectively.
ADF RESULTS
Cpl Geoff Hanckel 2:05:11
WO2 Gav Wickham 2:07:33
Flt-Lt Rich Gardiner 2:13:08
Cpl Cam Kuziemko 2:15:06
OCdt Ben Monaghan 2:16:21
PO Wayne Hale 2:17:30
Maj Jeff Rudd 2:21:54
Maj Mike Johannes 2:23:59
Flt-Lt Steve Edwards 2:24:55
Cpl Sean Seery 2:25:55
Flt-Sgt John Hovius 2:26:30
PO Michael ‘Titch’ Turner 2:27:07
Jodie Barker 2:29:13
WO2 Shelley Foster 2:30:57
AB Greg Kahl 2:33:16
LAC Chris Vagg 2:33:57
WO1 Ricky Smith 2:35:17
Christina Thorne 2:35:31
LS Jen Macrow 2:35:47
Sgt John Caples 2:38:45
Lt-Col Jeff Symmes 2:41:46
AB Samantha Morley 2:59:43
Flt-Sgt Craig Hardwicke 3:25:0
Alan Arnold 3:10:56
Christine Arnold 3:19:49. |
