Atkinson, Jackson take Noosa

Courtney Atkinson, who started 2009 with wins at the first two ITU World Cups and a second place at the World Championship Series event in Madrid, finished off the season in style by defending his title at the 27th edition of the famed Noosa Triathlon with a 71-seconds margin over young gun James Seear Saturday. Atkinson overcame a spill on the bike on roads made slick by a light rain, and passed Seear and James Amberger midway through the 10k run to claim the victory.

“I pushed too hard on the bike and made a stupid mistake,” Atkinson told race organizers. “My first thought was anger. I really didn’t need to push that hard when I knew I had a good run left in me.”

In the women’s race, the current 18-year-old ITU world junior silver medalist became the latest in a long succession of Emmas to rule over Noosa and take the 2009 crown. Emma Jackson passed ailing early leader Annabel Luxford midway through the run and held off the late charge of Sarah Crowley by 48 seconds to take the title in a time of 2:01:02. Jackson follows multiple winners – two-time ITU World Champion Emma Carney, three-time ITU World Champion and 2008 Olympic champ Emma Snowsill, and 2009 ITU World Championship Series winner Emma Moffat – as the latest Queen of Noosa.

Jackson came from behind for a breakthrough win in just her fourth Olympic distance triathlon and first in the elite category. Jackson, Annabel Luxford and Pip Taylor emerged from the swim with a 40-second lead on the chasers. They were pursued through the ride by two-time age group world champ Carrie Lester, Sarah Crowley, 3-time Olympian Kiyomi Niwata of Japan, and Caroline Steffen of Switzerland. On the run, Jackson pulled away from Luxford, who was suffering from a virus. Near the end, Crowley moved past Luxford to take second.

“I am very proud to win this race in front of so many people,” said Jackson, who may not have known that the spectators included triathlon’s Emma the First, Emma Carney.

27th Noosa Triathlon
Noosa, Queensland, Australia
October 30, 2009
S 1.5k / B 40k / R 10k

Results

Elite men

1. Courtney Atkinson (Gold Coast) 1:47:03
2. James Seear (Brookfield) 1:48:14
3. Joshua Amberger (Everton Hills) 1:48:53
4. Clayton Fettell (Alstonville) 1:49:14
5. Jason Woodhouse (Richmond) 1:50:18

Elite women

1. Emma Jackson (Joyner ) 2:01:02
2. Sarah Crowley (Lawnton) 2:01:50
3. Annabel Luxford (Brisbane0 2:02:33
4. Carrie Lester (Buddina) 2:03:25
5. Caroline Steffen (SUI) 2:03:33