Australia secured several more podium finishes at the 2024 World Triathlon Multisport Championships Townsville today, triumphing on home soil in the Cross Duathlon event.
Out of 85 Australian Age Group Team members racing today, 70 placed in the top 10, with 36 earning themselves a medal.
After winning individual Bronze in the Cross Triathlon on Tuesday, Maeve Kennedy and Benjamin Forbes today won themselves matching medals in the Elite Men’s and Women’s Cross Duathlon categories, each placing third amongst their respective fields.
Forbes was thrilled with a second World Championship bronze medal, with today’s podium all the more impressive due to it being his first ever Duathlon race.
“I’ve literally never ridden a bike after a run, I don’t even do it in training, this is the first Duathlon I’ve done so I was really excited to see all the differences, it was fun out there,” said Forbes.
“I had to do what I could on the bike – I’m a lot further ahead on the bike than my swim and run, so I just laid it all out on that section.
“I knew the run was shorter than on Tuesday and I didn’t get a stitch today which was awesome, happy with that, stoked,” he said.
After winning her Cross Triathlon race earlier in the week, Ash Watts became a dual World Champion this morning when she claimed her second Gold medal in the Junior Women’s category, this time in Cross Duathlon.
Australia’s U23 athletes also delivered on the course. In the Female category, Laura Gillard convincingly won Gold, finishing nearly 10 minutes ahead of the next competitor. In the Men’s, Cooper Carswell and Tadgh Williams finished second and third respectively, earning themselves a coveted spot on the podium.
After a stellar start to the week, Age Group athlete Kevin Fergusson is well on his way to being named a Multisport Legend. Fergusson claimed his third Gold medal of the overarching event in the Cross Duathlon, backing up his efforts from earlier in the week and securing himself his fourth podium from four events.
“I’m stoked with my race today, especially after the Cross Tri, my legs were smashed,” said Fergusson.
“Being a very proud Aussie, I love wearing green and gold, and seeing so many Aussies up on the podium and out on course. I love getting up on the stage in front of people, maybe I should have been an actor,” he joked.
“I’m loving being surrounded by so many fellow Aussies, the encouragement out on course and having so many Aussie spectators encouraging you is amazing. We’ve definitely got the home country advantage.”
Tom Jenkins and Samuel McNaughton can also call themselves two-time 2024 World Champions, securing World Championship titles in both Cross Triathlon and Cross Duathlon.
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 Cross Duathlon Championships Townsville
First Place:
Ash Watts – Junior Female
Laura Gillard – U23 Female
Kristen Rowlands 18-19 Female
Tom Jenkins 18-19 Male
Eamon Kriz 20-24 Male
Samuel McNaughton 25-29 Male
Belinda Pitt 30-34 Female
Brendan Sexton 35-39 Male
Julia Anderson 40-44 Female
Emmanuel Hovette 40-44 Male
Murray Smith 55-59 Male
Margaret Beardslee 65-69 Female
Kevin Fergusson 65-69 Male
Second Place:
Cooper Carswell – U23 Male
Kai Greven 18-19 Male
Adam Lee 25-29 Male
Michelle Tickner 35-39 Female
Jayne Rutter 45-49 Female
Christa Evans 55-59 Female
Clare Leung 60-64 Female
Graham Pemberton 60-64 Male
Darryl Smith 65-69 Male
Eddie Anderson 70-74 Male
Third Place:
Maeve Kennedy – Elite Female
Benjamin Forbes – Elite Male
Tadgh Williams – U23 Male
Jessica Monaghan 35-39 Female
James Hughes 35-39 Male
Matthew Pooley 40-44 Male
Melanie Kelly 45-49 Female
Fiona Mathews 50-54 Female
Simon Nendick 50-54 Male
Christine Kinlay 55-59 Female
Sam Cooke 55-59 Male
Geoff Breese 60-64 Male
Ken Mewha 70-74 Male
Tom Fisher also finished just shy of the podium in fourth in the Elite Male category while Hannah Lee-Young finished fifth in the Elite Women’s.
