KEMP CAPTURES 1st CAPRICORN, KEAT 3– PEATS!

Christian Kemp heads the field at the finish line of the Rydges Capricorn Half Ironman

A Sydney accountant and former Junior Australian Champion, and a seasoned pro athlete with a great history in this race headed the field to capture victory in the ninth annual Rydges Capricorn Half Ironman triathlon.

The women’s winner, pro athlete, Rebekah Keat, created history by becoming the first ever three-time winner of the Rydges Capricorn Half Ironman Triathlon. In the men’s race, former Australian Junior Triathlon Champion Christian Kemp took a stunning victory against a star-studded field, which included many of Australia’s best long-distance triathletes.

Held in Yeppoon, Central Queensland, the event attracted over 500 triathletes, the biggest field in its nine year history.

Bek Keat crosses the finish line at the Capricorn Half

How it unfolded

The women’s race provided some dramatic racing, with hot favourite and last year’s overall Series winner Rebekah Keat being dealt a five minute penalty mid-way through the bike leg. 

Following a strong swim, Keat had been riding superbly with Lisa Marangon, another regular podium finisher and winner of last year’s Busselton Half Ironman.  Both women received drafting penalties on the third lap of the bike course. 

This gave up-and-coming Victorian triathlete Charlotte McShane the opportunity to take the lead going in to the run, however, experience proved to be the winner on the day, with Keat pulling out all stops to run a scintillating half marathon time of 1.21.11, becoming the first ever three-peat winner of the Rydges Capricorn Half Ironman.

WA’s Kate Bevilaqua, also making her mark in local long distance racing ran superbly to secure second place, with Marangon running in to third position.

Following the race, an ecstatic Keat commented that “All the girls today were as hard as nails.  We pushed each other all the way.  I’m so happy that myself and Lisa were able to come back from the time penalty and finish in the top three.” 

Keat thrives on hard racing, which is just as well, as her upcoming race schedule includes the Aviva Ironman 70.3 Singapore in two weeks, then the Ironman World Championships, Ironman WA and Ironman Australia (Port Macquarie).

In the men’s race, Victorian swim specialist Sam Hume exited the water just ahead of Cameron Watt, however the two were quickly joined by a group of some ten athletes as they headed out on to the five-lap bike course.  Racing as a “pro” for the first time, Port Macquarie’s Adam Holborow emerged the early contender, attempting to break away from the group. 

Victoria’s Craig McKenzie and pre-race favourite Leon Griffin also tried to establish a gap on the  field, however it proved difficult for a serious breakaway to succeed on such a flat, fast bike course.

Coming in to the bike-run transition, McKenzie, Griffin and Holborow were joined by NSW’s Christian Kemp, who only resumed his triathlon careers in 2007 following a five year break.  Kemp finished second overall as an age-grouper at last year’s Canberra Half Ironman, prompting him to step up to the Open Male category.

Resuming from a niggling achilles injury which forced his withdrawal from Ironman Australia earlier this year, Craig McKenzie took the lead early in to the run.  Kemp quickly joined him and, heading in to the second lap of the three-lap run course, Kemp began to stamp his authority on the race.  Ultra-consistent Peter Loveridge ran in to second position about 5km from the finish – he also finished second at Round 1 of the Australian Half Ironman Series in Busselton earlier this year, and will now lead the series heading in to Round 3.  McKenzie held on to finish third, just ahead of Griffin.

But all honours today belong to Christian Kemp.  Although not completely surprised, his coach Chris Hanrahan (HERT) pointed out that with his full-time profession as a corporate accountant, Kemp has been working around the clock to fit in his triathlon training post-30 June! 

His next mission will be his home-town triathlon, the Port Macquarie Half Ironman, on 9 November.

Every athlete who completed today’s event is now eligible to enter Ironman Australia (Port Macquarie) 2009. There are five remaining Ironman Australia validating races including the Gold Coast Half Ironman, Port Macquarie Half Ironman, Shepparton Half Ironman, Canberra Half Ironman and the final of the series, the Geelong Ironman 70.3.

Having fun in the Aussie sun!

Men’s Results

Women’s Results

 

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