Race #79

When a Swim/Run event is held over a 1000 metre swim followed by a 3 kilometre run, the course is expected to favour the stronger swimmers in the field. But when there is hardly a ripple on the water as there was at Race #3 in the Stroke & Stride Series this helps to balance the equation and perhaps give the runners in the field a chance to shine.

The women’s field was started first and they were lead around the box course and back into the beach in a shade under 13 minutes by Juliet Tompkins and Rebecca Nesbit who were looking to put as much time as possible between them and their competition before the run leg. Just 15 seconds behind was the winner from a fortnight ago, Marisa Carter, leading in a stream of swimmers. Less than a minute down after the swim was reigning Series Champion, Heidi Alexander while also in contention was the winner of Race #1, Nicole Cope, clocking 14m 45s for the kilometre. It’s unusual to see a pair of men swimming shoulder to shoulder at the head of the men’s field but neither Brent Foster nor Adam Jackson were going to give an inch and matched each other stroke for stroke all the way into the beach grabbing the only sub 12 minute swims of the day. 25 seconds later Chris Williams was in third and then it was the turn of a continuous stream of men to hit the beach and charge through the transition.

As the bulk of the men’s field exited the water attention was switched back to the women’s race as Heidi Alexander had by this time carved up the 3 kilometre run and passed all her competition to take the lead and then victory in this event. Heidi’s first win of the season pushed Marisa Carter back into second place on this occasion but only by six seconds. Nicole Cope’s excellent swim kept her in contact with the early pacesetters and her always superb run got her up for third with Juliet Tompkins and Nicola de Lautour rounding out the top five.

Brent Foster may have enjoyed his company on the swim leg but the six time Series Champion didn’t get to claim all those titles by hanging back on the run. As soon as Brent hit the footpath it was time to hit the accelerator and open up a sizeable lead before claiming his second straight win of this season. Adam Jackson is definitely one to watch for in future events as he backed up his notable swim with a great run leg to claim an outstanding second placing for his best ever result in a Stroke & Stride. Chris Williams is proving to be Mr Consistency and while he couldn’t make any inroads on the leading duo he did claim another top three finish for the season. James Morgan also ran well to grab fourth just ahead of Steve Nicholls who seems to be getting better with age.

So as we go into the six week Christmas break the PHASE Grand Prix is delicately poised with just 2 points separating the first 2 men and women. Heidi Alexander, Marisa Carter and Nicole Cope have each won a race and sit atop the women’s field. While in the men it is Chris Williams in the lead after recording three third placings with James Morgan just two points in arrears. With still five races to go already five athletes have broken the magic 40 point barrier and it’s still too early to call a likely winner of the Series.