Fettell, Moffatt take Coral Coast
Australians Clayton Fettell and two-time ITU Olympic distance World Champion Emma Moffatt won the Coral Coast 5i50 in Cairns Saturday.
Men
Fettell posted the day’s fastest bike split that trumped long time ITU star Brad Kahlefeldt’s fastest run. Fettell finished in 1:44:33, holding off Kahlefeldt by 1:10. Joseph Lampe took the final slot on the podium, 2:32 back of the winner.
Fettell and Lampe led the swim a short distance ahead of Luke McKenzie, Kahlefeldt, Sam Betten and Michael Murphy. “I tried to go off the front in the swim but I just didn’t have the speed that Joey (Lampe) had today,” Fettell told 5i50 media. “He really opened it up and split the field early in the race, I just sat on his feet.”
Fettell then recorded a sizzling 50:21 bike split which gave him a 2 minute lead over McKenzie, Lampe was another 30 seconds back and Kahlefeldt 2:40 back starting the run. “I have done a lot of bike work lately so as soon as I got on the bike I felt great. I went straight over 400 watts and those numbers are something I never really hold,” Fettell told 5i50 media.
Kahlefeldt halved the gap in the first 5k of the run, but Fettell held on the final 5k.
Fettell, who like many in the field was using this race as preparation for next weekend’s Cairns 70.3, said the small but excellent field pushing him was a plus. “Having guys like Sticksy (Brad Kahlefeldt), Berkel (Tim Berkel) and Betten (Sam Betten) out on the run makes it tough,” said Fettell. “I guess I got lucky and had a great day.”
Kahlefeldt said he was pleased with his effort as he prepares for IRONMAN 70.3 Cairns next weekend. “I couldn’t quite catch Clayton, he had a fantastic bike leg and all credit goes to him,” Kahlefeldt told 5i50 media. “But it was nice to be out there racing today.”
Women
Emma Moffatt enjoyed a break from the ITU World Triathlon Series as she led the women from start to finish, placing 8th overall including the men in the Coral Coast 5i50 race. .
Moffatt left all her women competitors behind as she caught many of the male pros in the 1500 meter swim. Moffatt then extended her lead on the two lap bike course which was non-drafting under 5i50 rules. “It was the first time I have worked on a time trial bike, so it felt really fast compared to what I am used to,” she told 5i50 media. “It was nice to be around the boys to pace myself and know where I am and how hard to go.”
Moffatt shined on the unique run course which was 4 laps on hard sand along the beach. “It was mentally tough out there today and it’s quite hot,” Moffatt told 5i50 media.
Moffatt finished in 1:54:15 with a 14 minutes 12 seconds margin of victory over runner-up Ange Castle, who finished second at Ironman Australia in Port Macquairie. Renee Baker was 3rd.
Coral Coast 5150 Triathlon
Cairns, Australia
June 1, 2013
S 1.5 k / B 40k / R 10k
Results
Men
1. Clayton Fettell (AUS) 1:44:33
2. Brad Kahlefeldt (AUS) 1:45:43
3. Joseph Lampe (AUS) 1:47:05
4. Luke McKenzie (AUS) 1:48:06
5. Sam Betten (AUS) 1:49:25
Women
1. Emma Moffatt (AUS) 1:54:15
2. Ange Castle (AUS) 2:08:27
3. Renee Baker (AUS) 2:09:37
4. Sarah Crowley (AUS) 2:11:36
5. Brooke Langeris (AUS) 2:12:40
