Race #165

The day dawned fine and calm in Auckland for Race #2 in the 2XU Stroke & Stride Series. Then it just got better and then better still as the temperature climbed steadily into the high 20’s while the slightest of offshore breezes negated the afternoon sea breeze that was in the forecast. The result was a fabulous day for the beach and late afternoon the beach goers and sun bathers were squeezed to the side to make room for the start line as the hundreds of Stroke & Stride athletes lined up for their race day in the sun.

The swim was over an elongated 750 metre rectangle with the nothing to concern the swimmers providing they could hold a straight line on the long outbound and inbound legs. The men’s field started first and looked to be on record pace as they rounded the first can just minutes after the gun. As our commentators alluded to at the time, calling the Stroke & Stride swims this summer is now a whole new ballgame. For the past umpteen seasons at 95% of the events it was safe to say that the leading swimmer would be Brent Foster. However the indomitable Fozzie factor is missing this summer so we’re looking for a new aquatic ace to lead the way. At the first event it was talented Cameron Todd leading the men and this trend continues at Race #2 with another stellar swim clocking 9 minutes 11 seconds. However he hadn’t managed to break away and had company heading up the beach and through the transition with Michael Poole less than 20 seconds in arrears.

On this pristine afternoon the women’s field tore around their swim circuit with Teresa Adam first to arrive back on shore clocking a time of 9 minutes 30 seconds. Again the tranquil swim didn’t help the very best swimmers put much time into the next best swimmers with Simone Ackermann recording 9 minutes 40 seconds and Sophie Corbidge just on 10 minutes. In fact when the sea state is so pool-like everyone goes faster with the slower swimmers standing to gain the most; a similar scenario to the gains made by donning a wetsuit.

Next up was a flat and fast 4 kilometre run out as far as St Heliers Bay before returning to the finish on Mission Bay beach. The climatic conditions weren’t likely to have any dour effects on an athlete’s run, as there was really no wind to speak of on the exposed sections. While it was a warm day large sections of this scenic run are sheltered from the sun beneath the about-to-blossom pohutukawa trees that line the footpath. Once again the run was all Michael Poole as he ran himself into the lead on the outward section and then held that lead to the finish for a repeat victory. Also having a stunner was Elliot Frizelle backing up his most excellent swim with one of the day’s fastest run to grab the silver and in doing so his first ever Stroke & Stride podium finish. Just metres behind came Sam Franklin repeating his third placing from a fortnight ago and heading off Nick Berry and Cameron Todd.

Teresa Adam had a small break over Simone Ackermann as they headed off on their run leg but it couldn’t be sustained. The vastly experienced Simone Ackermann knows what it takes to win these swimrun events and she quickly got herself in the position to run home for her third straight win. Second place is still a fine start for Teresa Adam’s season holding off the charge of Sophie Corbidge in third. Emily Pearce ran through for fourth place and her best ever result with Elise Salt snaring fifth.

A quarter way through our season the two stars and ones to beat are shaping to be celebrated Simone Ackermann and much-improved Michael Poole. They already have a more than healthy 8 point and 10 point lead respectively in the Series Grand Prix. Their competition can ill afford to give athletes of this calibre any sort of head start and will need to do something special to make gains through the mid season races.