Gisborne one/two on podium

MULTISPORT

TWO G isborne women’s teams swam, biked and ran their way on to the podium at the Taupo Half Ironman in Taupo.
Triple Treat’s Pip Williams, Carol Redpath and Carolyn Pentecost blitzed the field to finish first in a time of four hours 45 minutes two seconds.
Individual competitor Gretchen Morrison, who placed third last year in 5:28:35 — went one better this year when she finished second in a personal best time of 5:07:22 in her 40-44-year age-group. Morrision was 15th overall woman.
Gissy Girls — Anelia Evans, Moira Lee and Tricia McBreen — made it a Gisborne one/two on the teams podium when they finished in 5:14:40.
Team organiser Evans was elated by the results and said her team did not expect to place in the top three.
“It’s about having a good time,” she said.
“Last year we said jokingly we were going to have a podium finish but we never expected such positive results.
“We were very surprised. We just went out there to give it our all and were very happy.”
Evans said the seven women were all mothers who had to juggle work commitments with training.
“Towards the end I just wanted to get it over and done with but we were delighted to come second.”
McBreen, who completed her swim leg in 32min 17sec, qualified for the 2012 Auckland ITU Triathlon World Championship finals.
Pentecost did the bike leg in 2hr 33min and Redpath did the run in 1hr 33min.
Morrison was stoked by the success of all the women and said the results showed how much triathlon and multisports had grown in Gisborne.
“Anyone can do it,” said Morrison, who will compete in the 204-kilometre Gwaloop Cycle Challenge next month.
“We have restarted a triathlon and multisport club and are running small-distance races to make the sport available for people to have a go. We also have races for the kids.
“Triathlon sports have seen a dramatic rise in competitors world-wide.
“The Taupo Half Ironman had a 50 percent increase in competitors, with 700 individuals and over 150 teams enduring a 2km swim, 90km bike and a 21.1km run.”