It is on in Geelong
The Geelong Multisport Festival is taking place all weekend in Geelong, Australia, and in addition to the long course and sprint triathlon events, the USM folks offer a variety of other activities including but not limited to speed golf.
Clayton Fettell is the defending champion at the Urban Geelong Long Course race and he made it clear earlier this year that he plans to defend this title. Fettell though faces a very tough field that includes Auckland 70.3 champion Chris Kemp, Tim Berkel, Leon Griffin, Luke Bell, Marko Albert, James Hodge, Joe Lampe and James Seear. Brad Kahlefeldt is looking to test how his short course speed and experience will help him in Geelong Long Course and Peter Robertson is coming out of semi retirement to see what he can do against these young guns.
"I don’t really think all eyes will be on me. There is another stellar line up of athletes racing Geelong. If there are a few more people watching what I’m doing, it doesn’t worry me, I will still race the way I have always done so, doing all I can to put myself in the best positions to try and win," said Fettell.
2011 Ironman 70.3 World Champion Melissa Hauschildt and Emma Moffatt headline the women's field but they will have to contend with Anna Cleaver and Michelle Wu. Plus with Kiyomi Niwata another Olympian is trying to mix things up.
Among the ones to watch in the Geelong Sprint Tri are Noosa champion Peter Kerr and fellow Aussies Cameron Good, Jamie Huggett and Jacob Birtwhistle. Kiwi Tony Dodds and French Pro Gregory Rouault lead the foreign contingent and are likely to keep the Aussies on their toes.
"To have a race in my own backyard in front of my family and friends is an ideal way to start the season proper and over the sprint distance too will be a good hit out," said Kerr. "But I know I have to race with attitude and confidence. I have to take a change of attitude to the start line"
The women's field is led by the very talented Aussie Emma Jackson and Japanese Yuko Takahashi.
"I have placed a lot of emphasis on enjoying the start of the season and I am really looking forward to racing in Geelong without putting any pressure on results," said Jackson.
We did mention speed golf earlier and that is indeed one of the activities offered. Speed golf participants actually compete in teams of two on 9 holes on the East Geelong Golf Course with the goal to take the shortest amount of time to complete these holes. In addition to bragging rights the winning team will also walk away with VIP tickets to the upcoming Ironman Melbourne.
There will also be a 1k swimming event, a kids triathlon and 5k and 10k runs.
