Aussie pro triathlete celebrates maiden first-place victory in KK

 By Olivia Miwil - November 11, 2023 @ 6:02pm

Sabah Asia Triathlon Cup Elite men's champion Kurt Wesley from Australia finished 750m swim, 20km cycling and 5km running in 53 minutes. -NSTP/Olivia Miwil

KOTA KINABALU: Australian Kurt Wesley secured the first-place position in the Sabah Asia Triathlon Cup at Prince Phillip Park in Tanjung Aru here today.

The 26-year-old professional athlete from Perth completed the 750-meter swim, 20-km cycle, and 5-km run in just 53 minutes.

"My parents are triathletes. I did my first triathlon when I was six or seven, and I have been training professionally for eight years.

"I train two times a day every day, totaling about 18 to 20 hours a week. It is time-consuming, but I am grateful that my girlfriend is very supportive and was here to cheer me on in the race.

"It was also really great to share the podium with more Australians; it is great to have tough competition," said Wesley, who visited Kota Kinabalu for the first time and will be competing in another Asia Cup in Hong Kong next week.

The second and third positions in the same Elite Men's category as Wesley were also won by Australians Lachlan Jones and Yoann Colin.

For the Elite Women's category, Australian Zoe Clarke emerged as the champion, with the second position taken by Manami Ijima from Guam, and the third by Chang Chi Wen from Taipei.

The first-place winner in the Elite category will bring home USD 810; second place USD 675 and third place USD 540.

The race, which started at 6.30 am, also saw four siblings from Kuala Lumpur competing in the elite categories.

Esther Joy Chen, 20, said it was more enjoyable to compete in a race with her siblings as they can train and motivate each other.

The two brothers and two sisters, aged between 17 and 23, started training two years ago and today's event was their second triathlon.

"I felt I did better in this race compared to our first triathlon at the beginning of this year since back then I did not know what to expect. This time, I came in 10th place," said the Sports Science student, adding that they will be joining the half Ironman race next month.

The triathlon saw 41 men and 21 women in the Elite category and 220 in the Age Group category. The duathlon race tomorrow will see up to 600 participants.

Race director Auther Kimon said that with the support from the Malaysia Triathlon Association and Sabah Tourism, Culture, and Environment Ministry, the triathlon managed to make a comeback to Sabah today.

The event was first held in Tanjung Lipat 22 years ago.




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