Three local athletes represented South Africa at this year's ITU Duathlon World Championships in Gijon, Spain on Sunday 25 September.
These sporting champs were Rhodes University students; Michael Cannon and Natalie Ross, as well as local pilates instructor, Julie Walker.
Three local athletes represented South Africa at this year's ITU Duathlon World Championships in Gijon, Spain on Sunday 25 September.
These sporting champs were Rhodes University students; Michael Cannon and Natalie Ross, as well as local pilates instructor, Julie Walker.
Ross had the race of her lifetime as she secured the world championship silver medal after finishing second in the women's 20 to 24 age category. The duathlon champs covered the Olympic distance of a 10km run, 40km cycle and a 5km run. Ross finished the 10km in first spot in 41:59, then ended third after the cycle which she completed in 1:13:17. She then went on to pick up a top three position in the last leg of the 5km run which she completed in 20:59.
Cannon finished ninth in the men's 25 to 29 age category in a time of 1:55:22. His 10km run was completed in 34:58, with a 1:00:28 cycle and a 17:21 last run.
Walker finished 25th in the women's 40 to 45 age category in a time of 2:38:35 (50:08 for the 10km run, 1:15:08 cycle and a 26:31 5km run).
Gijon is in northern Spain, and is a popular tourist area thanks to its position on the Spanish coast. The duathlon course was designed with fans in mind, with many great viewing spots along the course.
Meanwhile, another Rhodes student competing overseas, Darryn van Huyssteen, also took silver at the Union International de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM) Biathle World Championships on 25 September. The Biathle champs took place in Sofia, Bulgaria in perfect weather.
Van Huyssteen finished the event, made up of a 3km run and a 200m swim, in 12 minutes 52.387 seconds.
South Africa topped the medal table in this competition with 10 golds and 29 medals in total against Britain’s 7. The Czech Republic took 2 golds and Cyprus only achieved 1 in the gold medal tally.
