Australia’s Luke Schofield has powered to victory at the Oceania Triathlon Super Sprint Championships, keeping the title in the family with a strong performance in a thrilling final at the Gold Coast Performance Centre.
After brother Jayden claimed the crown last year, Luke rose to the occasion in the short, sharp format – fending off fellow Australian Lockie Jones and New Zealand’s Saxton Morgan who rounded out the podium.
“Both Jayden and I love this format,” Schofield said post-race.
“The short stuff is probably one of our favourite styles of racing. Its sweet to get it this year since Jayden got it last year, so the Scho-bros maintain the title – that was the goal coming into this weekend and we came away with that.”
The 250m swim, 7km bike and 1.5km eliminator format competition delivered unpredictable racing throughout the weekend.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing for Schofield, who had to battle through adversity just to earn his place in the final.
“I got a flat in the heats which wasn’t ideal,” he said.
“I went into yesterday thinking it will be a two-race day but I had to go through the repecharge which isn’t the easiest, but stoked to get the win after the chaos yesterday.”
New Zealand’s Nicole Van Der Kaay claimed the women’s crown with a commanding performance in the final, edging out Australia’s Kira Hedgeland and fellow Kiwi Eva Goodison to top the podium.
Capping off a weekend of fast and furious racing, Team Australia flew to the finish in the Oceania Triathlon Mixed Relay Championships, with Emma Jeffcoat, Lockie Jones, Ellie Hotink and Jayden Schofield combining seamlessly to take top honours ahead of a double Kiwi challenge.
Earlier in the day, the Australian Intellectual Impairment Championships saw Cameron Marshall and Georgia Powning extend their remarkable reigns, each claiming a fifth consecutive national title in dominant fashion.
“To make history, not only myself but beside one my teammates Georgia Powning is something very special,” Marshall said.
“It’s good to soak it all in and create history – its really good.”
Australia’s para triathletes also impressed at the Australian Para Championships, with gold medals going to Alby Everett (PTS3 Men), Jeremy Peacock (PTS4 Men), Jack Howell (PTS5 Men), Michael Wilkes (PTVI Men), Brody Velthuis (TWD Men), Andrea Compton (PTS5 Women) and Maggie Sandles (PTVI Women) in a strong showing across the classifications.
For full results from the weekend’s racing, click here.
