Aernouts and Swallow prove too good on tough day in East London
21 January 2013
What was otherwise another fantastic race with some impressive displays was rocked early on with the tragic news of two athletes suffering fatal cardiac arrests during the swim leg of the event. The two athletes, South African males aged 29 and 37 will not be named out of respect for their families and a statement was issued by World Endurance Africa earlier in the day.
The PROs hit the water in the first wave at 06:45 amidst much debate about who would be the new male champion at the end of the day. The news of James Cunnama deciding against racing yesterday, along with Faris Al-Sultan missing the race through illness through the men’s race wide open. With fast swimmers such as Marko Albert (EST), Tim Don (GBR), Will Clarke (GBR) and Mark Threlfall (GBR) in the field, a fast race was to be expected.
Albert, Threlfall and Belgium’s Axel Zeebroek, made strong starts on the swim creating a substantial gap ahead of the chasing pack. This lead was how the swim stayed with Albert exiting the water first in a time of 00:23:43 followed closely by Threlfall (00:23:45) and Zeebroek (00:23:50). The USA’s Kyle Leto and South Africa’s Kent Horner made up the top five and followed into transition.
With such a close swim, the athlete who dominates on the tough cycle course would always have an advantage in the hot, windy conditions. Albert made the most of his swim lead by staying in front for most of the cycle heading out to the turnaround point. Clark however moved over to the front pack stayed on his rear wheel to keep a close second during the first 20km on the bike. A second group, consisting of Tim Don, Aernouts, Horner, Leto, Sunberg and Schildknecht, formed some way behind the front two. Albert’s lead was never much more than 50 metres and at a time Fifteen metres away from the turnaround, Clarke made a push for the lead and went past Albert.
Meanwhile Aernouts was making his way up the field and went past Albert into second place before the 45km mark. Aernouts quickly whittled down Clarke’s lead eventually passing the Brit just after the 45km mark. Aernouts opening a lead over Clark before Albert came back to into second place on the back end of the cycle. With Aernouts out in front and Albert now second, Ronnie Schildknecht (SUI) was making his move.
The Belgian Aernouts headed into T2 in pole position holding a 2 minute lead over Schildknecht who managed to get ahead of Albert on the bike. Albert trailed by 30 seconds with Don 2 minutes behind, coming in strongly. Sunshine and heat on the run, Aernouts maintained his lead with and at the 16km mark was 00:02:30 ahead of Schildknecht which he held until the finish line to win for the first time in South Africa. For the second year running, Schildknecht finished second, 3 minutes behind the winner with Don finishing third after passing Albert on the run. Schildknecht being pipped to the post by yet another Belgian in South Africa.
Top 5 men (Provisional)
- Bart Aernouts (BEL) 04:03:52
- Ronnie Schildknecht (SUI) 04:06:22
- Tim Don (GBR) 04:10:39
- Marko Albert (EST) 04:12:10
- Will Clarke (GBR) 04:13:46
Swallow bags a hat-trick in fine style
The pre-race favourite once again did the damage as Jodie Swallow (GBR) lead the ladies race from start to finish to make it a unprecedented hat-trick of titles in East London. The Briton was the dominant force she usually is and backed up her pre-race confidence with her third title in as many years.
Swallow lead in the swim amassing an early lead over Lucie Reed (CZE). Swallow was never challenged in the water and proceeded to exit with the leading male pack in a time of 00:25:10 with Reed the second female in 00:26:39. Reed’s compatriot, Maria Cze’snik put in a solid swim to be third to emerge in a time of 00:26:46 with Dianne McEwan giving the locals something to shout about in fourth.
Heading onto the bike with a good lead, Swallow would take some beating. This is where she really dominates. Fellow Brit, and last year’s 5th place finisher, Susie Hignett managed to bike her way through the early swim leaders to second place. Swallow meanwhile powered on amassing a 5 minute lead over Hignett. Swallow maintained her lead going outward on the bike after the 20km mark. There was movement taking place in the chasing pack with Cze’snik coming back into second after 45k. Reed and South Africa’s Natasha Gorrie kept in touch with Hignett before Gorrie started to move up the positions on the backend of the bike.
Swallow came into T2 with her lead intact going onto the run with a measure of comfort. Gorrie managed to cut Swallow’s lead down to just 2 minutes and 24 seconds but could not maintain. At the 10km mark Swallow had once again regained her 5 minute lead. Heading towards the finish line, Hignett was in second with Reed in third followed by South African pair Gorrie and Jeannie Seymour.
Jodie Swallow made it a hat-trick finishing in 04:39:39 well ahead of her compatriot, Hignett (04:43:37). Reed made it yet another podium with third in 04:44:18.
Top 3 Women (Provisional)
- Jodie Swallow (GBR) - 04:39:29
- Susie Hignett (GBR) - 04:43:37
- Lucie Reed (CZE) - 04:44:18
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