Hualien Cup Wet and Li Triumph in Trying Conditions

Wei Jin Jun (Tom 魏振展)(Columbus Team) has been the up and coming triathlete to watch in Taiwan for the last couple of years. He showed maturity with a superb 36.24 10km run to win a rain-soaked Hualien Cup Triathlon ahead of a talented young local boy 王顥翔, and defending champion Craig Johns (Columbus Team) from New Zealand. Equally so, Jenny Li (李筱瑜) showed why she is still the number 1 female triathlete in Taiwan with a superb 43.48 10km run to stride ahead of Sally (汪旖文) and an improving Kaight Forgie (Columbus Team)from New Zealand.

The Hualien Cup is an annual Olympic Distance event held in may each year. The swim is a 1500m out and back in teh beautiful Liyu lake. A long run to transition  is followed by a tough 3 lap out and back 40km cycle leg. To finish off triathletes run a scenic 10km along tree-covered undulating roads that circumnavigate the lake to transition and return.

Around 800 Competitors were greeted with torrential rain on race morning and weather reports suggesting thunderstorms. Fortunately teh rain weakenned and the thunder and lightening stayed afar. The temperatures were 22-24degrees celcius and a mild wind greeted the athletes on the cycle leg .

Craig Johns came into this race as defending champion and showed, despite battling injuires and illness over the past 9 months, that he was going to dictate the race. With some quick pool swimmers lining up, he showed is experience in open water exiting the lake and crossing the timing mat in 20.39, with 2 competitors in tow (including 4th place finisher 謝昇諺). With 王顥翔 (2nd place finisher) 20 seconds, Yang Mao Yong (Kenting 113km champion) 1minute,  Wei Jin Jun (Tom) 2minutes and Shane Dennison (Top New Zealand endurance triathlete) 5minutes in arrears, Johns set about splitting the field apart.

On his super quick black Kuota Kaliber with FSA components and matching black trisuit, Johns was seen clocking over 65km/hr on the gradual downhill. Competitors were trying to limit the deficiet as the negotiated the wet, slick tarmac. His lack of fitness meant a time 1minute30secs slower was recorded (1hr5min49sec) on the bike leg (still 2min16sec quicker than any other rider on the day). Wei Jin Jun (Tom), 謝昇諺 and Dennison all recorded 1hr8min cycle splits to stay in contention. 王顥翔 (2nd place finisher) had some work cut out for him on the run as he recorded a 1hr10min bike split. Not bad for the young 20 year old who has recently switched from swimming to triathlon.

Onto the run and Johns' lack of fitness and recent sore throat began to show. The running legs looked more like a clydesdale than a thoroughbred. In contrast Wei Jin Jun (Tom) was in stunning form, looking fresh, strong and moving like an express train on Red Bull. 王顥翔 (2nd place finisher) was also making his move and 謝昇諺 (4th place finisher) was holding steady. Johns rounded the marker cone at 5.5km to the sight of Wei Jin Jun (Tom) staring him down teh barrell. There was nothing Johns could do except dig deep to hold on for the minor placings. Wei Jin Jun (Tom) ran away to a 3min win over young 20 year old up and comer 王顥翔 and Johns held on for 3rd 30seconds in arrears. a great all round performance 謝昇諺, took 4th placing ahead of Yang Mao Yong and the flying kiwi, Shane Dennison. National Team Coach Dave Toman managed a fine 8th placing on limited training (obviously spending much of his spare time in developing some fine talent)

The womens race was 4minutes faster than last year. Sally (汪旖文) showed some great early season form at the Dong Hwa Cup (Collegiate Triathlon held in Hualien) a few weeks back, showing she was ready to topple Jenny Li (李筱瑜) who has reined champion in Taiwan for the past few years. Sally didn't disappoint with a fantastic swim leading the womens field out of the water in 25.33 with a very young 14 year old right on her heels. Jenny was a further 1min30sec back with Tsao Tsui (Tracy 曹翠玉) and Kaight Forgie quite a way off the pace. It was setting up for a two horse race for the top of the podium and also the same for the last podium spot.

Sally showed her impressive improvement on the bike to keep Jenny at bay. Meanwhile Tsao Tsui (Tracy 曹翠玉) was making great time on the bike. Sally and Jenny both looked extremely strong on the bike not giving an inch. Forgie didn't have one of her best rides and needed a quick transition and blistering run if she was going to make the podium.

Onto the run and Sally still looked to hvae the upper hand. Jenny used her experience to slowly whittle the gap down before pouncing and striding out to a comfortable 1min50sec win. Sally showed she will be a force in triathlon over tehe next few years. Kaight had the run of her life to move past Tsao with 200m to go and claim the final podium spot. Tsao finished in 4th place.

The Taiwan team are looking great leading into the Asian Triathlon Champs to be held in Korea on June 2nd. 5 boys will race in the Under 23 category led by Wei Jin Jun (Tom) and Sally and Jenny will race the Elite womens division. All the best to coach Dave Toman and the team of rising triathlon stars.

I thoroughly enjoyed travelling with a group of friends (Columbus Team) who have trained together over the past two years. The loading of the van, to chilling at the breakfast table, to hearing the support and the smiles at the finish. Some quick excerpts on others in the race. Bill Bryson set a blistering pace on the swim leading out the 2nd swim wave by a minute or two, he had a great run to go under the 2hr50min mark for the first time. Bill Farrell looked relaxed and smooth for a great day at the office. Laura Hellgeth made an impressive debut into the Olympic Distance arena with a fine swim and ride. Julie Strait managed a PB an is looking in great shape for Bintan (Indonesia) this weekend. Joe Mc Dougall had a great swim to go under the 3hr mark. We missed Laura Earley who was unable to race after a bike accident one week prior. Chris Wilcock looked sharp on his new bike. Joshua Colp had a fine 2nd in the M25 division after forgetting his cycle shoes and having to ride with his running shoes on.

See everyone at Sun Moon Lake.

Race Article: www.bikeman.org
Results: Hualien Cup Age Groups
Photos: Greg Chang

Comments

[David T.]

Thanks for that fine report, Craig, and congrats on your wicked Craig Walton impression. A few more weeks of training and it will all come together for you.

[Craig Johns]

Would be nice to have a girlfriend like walto. Training would be a luxury. Looking forward to summer vacation so I can be an athlete for a few months...