Paarl trio takes triathlon title
2005-11-17
A TEAM from Paarl took the honours in the Resolution/Energade triathlon race that took place in Gordon’s Bay on Sunday.
Cyclist Ashley Kulsen, swimmer Letreace October and road runner Lenton Kalase won the mixed team category in the fifth leg of this popular triathlon series in a time of 1:03:15.
It is not the first time that this team, sponsored by Hein Kroff Cycles, compete in this event. They have entered for the last four years taking the top spot in 2003.
This year however saw Kalase replace the former running man, Ashley Mapisa, who received a two year contract with the Griquas Rugby Union.
“I’ve only recently started a new job, Letreace is studying at Stellenbosch and Lenton is a matriculant at New Orleans Secondary so we’re not that fit,” explains Kulsen.
“We were therefore very surprised when we heard that we had won.”
October had to face the 12°C waters of Gordon’s Bay before se could complete her leg of 600m.
“The water was very cold and as I caught up to some of the men’s swimmers around the 500m mark, I got kicked in the face. I thought I had a bloody nose and lost my stride for a while, but luckily I wasn’t hurt,” says Leatreace.
After finishing the swim in just over eight minutes she ran up the beach to meet Kulsen.
Kulsen, who also rides for the professional road cycling team Coessa, sped along the 20km route to hand over to his running team mate 32 minutes later.
“The weather was hot and humid, but nice to compete in. It started to rain lightly soon after I started riding, but it helped me in a way to cool down,” said Kulsen.
Before the handover some 20 cyclists had a head start on Kulsen. By the time he had Kalase in his sights he was the fifth competitor to set his runner on his way.
Kalase averaged just over three minutes per kilometre during his 5km stint overtaking one competitor in the process and crossed the finish line almost six minutes ahead of their closest rivals.
In the second place in a time of 1:09:04 was the mixed team of JOBO.
Here Johan Botha, Lizandré Joubert and Wessel Swartz turned on the pace for a place on the podium. Both Joubert and Swartz are pupils at Hugenote High School.
The individual men's and women’s categories were won by Stellenbosch University student Mari Rabie (1:07:21) and Bloemfontein’s Erhard Wolvaardt (58:55).
More
News
|
