The second day of competition at the 2024 World Triathlon Multisport World Championships saw Australians continue to achieve success on the course.
The sunny winters day in Townsville saw the Australian Age Group Standard Distance Duathlon Team members compete against world-class opposition, with another 12 World Champions and an additional 19 Australian medallists etching their names into the history books.
First female across the line, Belinda Murray from the Sunshine Coast recorded a time of 2:00:41 on her Australian Age Group debut to clinch the World Champion title.
“It was definitely quite a big surprise,” said Murray on her win.
“I wasn’t expecting to even win my age group let alone come first over the line, so yeah, it was pretty special.
“I was just trying to go as hard as I possibly could in the 10 kilometre and I was a bit surprised to keep up with the lead pack.
“About 7 kilometres into the first run I felt good so I stepped up a gear. I jumped on the bike and it was close at the start but I held my own, and thought to myself ‘I just have to hold on for the next five kilometres’.
“I’m definitely keen to continue this Duathlon thing, it’s a good excuse not to swim. The World Title definitely gives me the motivation to keep going,” she said.
Arron Nitschke and Maeve Goehner put forward huge efforts to claim the World Championship title in the Men’s and Women’s 20-24 categories respectively, while Billingham twins Ryan and Riley won Gold and Silver respectively in the Men’s 18-19 division and Mia Wooldridge won Gold in the corresponding Women’s category.
In the Para Duathlon World Championships, Australian Matthew Engesser was the fastest around the course in the PTS4 category, finishing ahead of France’s Mathieu Rella and New Zealand’s Kurt Peterson. Australian’s John Domandl and guide Jason Selman also secured a world title in the Para Duathlon (PTVI).
“I’m stoked considering I was the youngest in the field,” said Engesser.
“I’m very happy, it was very hot, but I pushed through the pain and I’m really happy.”
In the 2×2 Duathlon Relay, Juniors Angus Argent-Smith and Hannah Pollock topped the podium ahead of Japan, with Australians Ethan Mackie and Aurora Jarvis finishing third.
Australians Georgia Powning and Cameron Marshall received another Gold medal (Age Group Standard Duathlon), awarded in recognition of athletes with Intellectual Impairment competing at the 2024 World Triathlon Multisport Championships Townsville.
The World Triathlon Multisport Championships Townsville is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland.
For more on the 2024 World Triathlon Multisport Championships Townsville and full results visit https://townsville.triathlon.org/
2024 World Triathlon Duathlon Championships Townsville
First Place:
Mia Wooldridge 18-19 Female
Ryan Billingham 18-19 Male
Maeve Goehner 20-24 Female
Arron Nitschke 20-24 Male
Demi Caldwell 30-34 Female
Belinda Murray 35-39 Female
James Bartlett 35-39 Male
Lesley West 40-44 Female
Sarah Watson 45-49 Female
Stephen Macmillan 45-49 Male
Nicky Western 50-54 Female
Warwick Sinclair 60-64 Male
Kevin Fergusson 65-69 Male
Second Place:
Riley Billingham 18-19 Male
Cameron Hill 20-24 Male
Maggie Monckton 25-29 Female
Sam Marshall 30-34 Male
Carlee Taylor 35-39 Female
Joshua Mcnab 35-39 Male
Lucas McBeath 40-44 Male
Keith Colomb 45-49 Male
Rachel Stubbs 50-54 Female
Phil Davies 65-69 Male
Penny Hearn 70-74 Female
Ronald Smith 75-79 Male
Third Place:
Hannah Maree 20-24 Female
Aaron McKenzie 25-29 Male
Casey Chalmers 30-34 Female
Siobhan Sefton 35-39 Female
Julia Anderson 40-44 Female
Stephen Hadley 40-44 Male
Brett Jenkins 50-54 Male
Katherine Ryna 55-59 Female
Joyce Buffa 60-64 Female
David McEwan 65-69 Male
Stephen Parnell 75-79 Male
Colin Mancey 80-84 Male
A further 57 Australian Age Group Multisport Team Members placed in the top 10.
