Race #160

The fifth event in the 2XU Stroke & Stride Series turned on the best weather conditions of the season to date. We basked in a sublime summer’s day combined with a high tide on the sparkling blue waters of the Waitemata Harbour. This did result in competitors having to compete for beach space with the Aucklanders out for their relaxing afternoon sojourn in the sun.

When an area of beach was finally cleared for the start a high quality women’s field lined up ready for their 750 metre swim. The lightest of onshore winds wasn’t going to slow anyone down and they were soon out around the two cans and heading back for the beach. Perennial swim leader Teresa Adam again got the jump on the pursuers recording 9 minutes 35 seconds however this time she was shadowed by Debbie Tanner in 9 minutes 48 seconds with this pair the only swimmers inside of 10 minutes. Then the faucet opened with a continual stream of athletes exiting the water and running into transition with major players Jo Lawn 10 minutes 20 seconds, Simone Ackermann 10 minutes 21 seconds, Tanya Dromgool 10 minutes 22 seconds, Elise Salt 10 minutes 23 seconds, Maddie Dillon 10 minutes 25 seconds and Carmel Hanly 10 minutes 29 seconds all in the mix.

At the same time this was going on the men’s field got underway giving a conundrum for spectators having to decide where to turn their attention. Eight minutes and 41 seconds later it was Brent Foster first to emerge from the sea but just like a fortnight ago he had Cameron Todd attached limpet-like to him. It was again game on as these two stormed through lightening quick transitions and out onto the run never more than a metre apart. Third out of the water was Sam Franklin giving up 20 seconds to the leaders and then came the dripping hordes as literally hundreds and hundreds of guys morphed from swim to run and headed off to the turn at Kohimarama.

It may be three years since Debbie Tanner last triumphed at a Stroke & Stride but she hasn’t exactly been sitting on her laurels in the intervening years as she plied her trade on the international stage. Swim leader Teresa Adam soon found her advantage had been gobbled up out on the run course as a hard charging Debbie Tanner swept past and into the lead. Debbie Tanner is one of the finest swimrun athletes New Zealand has produced and her win today was her ninth Stroke & Stride victory in a career dating back to 1996 – Debbie is still just 27 years old so you work that out.

Winner of eleven Stroke & Stride events Carmel Hanly came through for a handy second placing this time on the back of the day’s fastest run split. Teresa Adam wasn’t intimidated by this company and also ran very well for third place. Next to cross the line was Series Champion Simone Ackermann securing more valuable points in defence of her title holding out Megan Blackett who scored her best ever Stroke & Stride result.

Watching the front of the men’s race could give you a sense of déjà vu as it was playing out almost exactly the same as two weeks earlier. Matching each other stroke for stroke out on the water and then stride for stride out on the road Brent Foster and Cameron Todd rounded the headland near the end of their 4 kilometre run still keeping very close company. And then in the blink of an eye Cameron Todd finds another gear and jumps away for a vital couple of seconds lead which he holds to the line for back-to-back victories. Brent Foster may be denied the win on the day but he still reaps a huge helping of those vital points in his quest for the Series title.

His best ever season just got even better for Sam Franklin with his run as hot as his swim holding him in third for his own best ever finish in a Stroke & Stride race. The latter stages of the run saw Liam Scopes edge ahead of Sam Morreau as they rounded out the top five.

Time to get your calculators out as with just three remaining races the likely contenders for the Series titles are now jostling for position. Simone Ackerman has an 8 point buffer over past Series Champion Carmel Hanly as they sort out who should get their name on the cup this time around. A little further back Maddie Dillon and Teresa Adam are only 3 points apart in their own duel.

If you’d placed a bet pre-season that ageless Brent Foster would win his 15th title then allow yourself a wily smile because that 26 point lead he has amassed is looking very healthy right now. However the battle for second place could not be closer with Liam Scopes and Sam Franklin presently shoulder to shoulder on 60 points.