Triathlon
By
WO2 Greg Young
A
group of 22 ADF triathletes found themselves among the thick of
things in a field of more than 3600 at the annual Noosa Triathlon,
which since 1983, has grown to become the second largest triathlon
in the world.
The Australian Services Triathlon Association (ASTA), with the
help of Tenix and Uncle Toby’s, supported the triathletes
competing in the event from all parts of Australia. All members
of the ADF team were presented with an ADF race singlet for the
event to make the team easily identifiable on the course.
A hot and humid morning greeted the competitors as they set out
on their 1.5km swim, 40km cycle and 10km run which is the Noosa
Triathlon.
The elite males hit the water to signify the start with the age
groupers who headed off every four minutes in wave after wave
with up to 150 competitors in each wave. The action was frantic
and at one stage there were swimmers in the water, cyclists covering
the entire 40km of the cycle course and the elite males had started
the run leg.
The fastest ADF male competitor was CAPT David Little from 25/49
RQR in a time of 2hr 6min and finished 142nd overall. Second place
went to SGT Bradley Gordon from 41 RNSWR and third went to MAJ
Jeff Rudd from RTC SEQLD.
The fastest ADF female competitor was WO2 Shelley Foster from
APA-Brisbane in a time of 2.16.41. She also won her age group
making her one of the fastest 40-44 year age groupers in the world.
All the other individual and team competitors performed to their
best ability and gave it all they had to show the civilian community
that the ADF is able to hold its own in the sporting field.
If you think you would like to do Noosa or any other triathlon,
contact your local ASTA representative or WO2 Greg Young on (02)
9600 4266 or by email on greg.young2@defence.gov.au
