Vanderwater and George win Mooloolaba Triathlon 2010 in Australia – All Category Podium Results

28 March 2010
Media Release

Local Sunshine Coast talent Tim George thrilled the crowd, securing the biggest win of his career taking out the Northside Party Hire Open Elite race this morning. Former local Melissa Vandewater scored her first victory in Mooloolaba’s famous café and restaurant precinct today.

Tim George Breaking into the winners circle after finishing third here last year George clocked a time of one hour 52 minutes and 48 seconds over the 1.5km swim, 40km cycle and 10km run 8 seconds clear of fellow Queenslander John Polson and New South Welshman Peter Schokman who had the fastest run split a further 9 seconds back and rounding out the podium.

George said that his plan to run away from everyone in his preferred leg, the 10-kilometre run after a relatively easy bike leg didn’t pan out with John Polson catching him after George stormed out of the transition to gap the field.

“We all got out of the water close together and the bike wasn’t terribly difficult and no one was able to break away.

“John Polson was flying on the run I was just hanging onto the back of him and hoping he didn’t have much of a sprint finish.

“I tried to surge a couple of time but he stuck with me everytime,” said George.

George admitted the hometown advantage was a massive help.

“I’ve run this same 10k every Saturday for the last six months and now every step of it.

He made is final assault with just 400m coming through Thunder Alley.

“I hit the gas and managed to hang on, fortunately I had enough left,” said George. Polson was spent, collapsing across the finish line ahead of Schokman.

Long course specialist Vandewater gave away plenty of time to the early race leaders Maddison Allen, Rebecca Milne and Amy Roberts only moving into the lead at the 4km into the run leg.

“The short course girl’s definitely get the run on me because I’m doing longer races so they had a good break on me going into the run.

Early race leader Maddison Allen eventually withdrew just 2km into the on the run leg suffering plantar fasciitis.

Vandewater pegged back all but two girls on the bike leg then proceeded to hunt them down heading into the run.

“Coming up to the hill I tried to increase my speed but brought a couple of others with me,” said Vandewater.

“I lost pace a bit with 7km to go but with 1km to go, just thought this is my race I’m not losing it now.

Victoria’s Madeleine Oldfield put in a huge run leg to move through the field and take second place today just ahead of another local Rachael Paxton.

As a prequel to the ITU World Cup elite women’s race schedule to start later in the day a record field of 5500 triathlete’s took up their own challenge in the 1.5km swim, 40km cycle and 10km run from 6.15am this morning.