This race was the biggest event in Taiwan's young sport of triathlon. Over 3000 competitors took part in three events over the weekend. On Saturday there was a sprint triathlon (750m swim / 20km cycle / 5km run) which catered mainly for 1st time triathletes. There was also a relay event (750m swim / 20km cycle / 5km run) for teams of either 2 or 3 people. On the Sunday the main race of an Olympic Distance event (1500m swim / 40km cycle / 10km run)
The two PR media companies did a fantastic job ensuring many newspaper, magazine and television personnel where in attendance. The coverage provided a fantastic advertisement for the sport of triathlon in Taiwan with all aspects of the weekend covered. This included the huge contingent of the police force racing, the standard chartered accountant blind team, the talented Korean National Junior team, the sponsors especially Uni-Presidents, the excellent turn out of 1st time athletes, those who were unable to finish and also the talented Taiwanese individuals who are rapidly developing as a very competitive triathlon nation.
Sprint Triathlon
The Korean National Junior Team provided some fast action packed racing in the sprint event. With the athletes spread over four wave starts, there was plenty of room for everyone to get a good swim around the 750m triangle course. Many people struggled with either the muddy start, swimming in a lake where you cant see the bottom for the first time or underestimated how difficult it is to swim 750m. You could see many people holding onto the buoy line, pontoons and at least 15 people being rescued. Maybe its time that people require a confirmation letter signed by a certified swim coach that they can actually swim the distance before allowing them to compete? A humans safety should come first! This start didn't deter The Korean team, with Heo Min-Ho(許敏鎬) and Kim Ju-Suck(金珠奭）leading out the swim in 9min3sec. They showed a swift pair of heels along the tough 500m uphill transition to clear away from the pack. Heo Min-Ho(許敏鎬) shows his class on the bike to open up a 2minute gap before unleashing a 17min19sec 5km run to dominate the race from start to finish. Kim Ju-Suck(金珠奭）showed there is plenty of up and coming talent in Korea finishing 2nd with team mate Sin Sung-Geun(申星根) claiming the final podium spot. 許自雄 from Taiwan was 6 minutes back in 4th place. In the women's event the three Korean team members where within 12 seconds of each other out of the water before Kim Hee-Ju(金喜珠) produced a superb 40minute bike leg and 20minute run to win by just over 3minutes from team mate Lee Song Nan(李松蘭). Kim Ki-Yeon(金智?) also from the Korean team took 3rd place around 30seconds behind. Olivia Fernley a New Zealander who has recently arrived in Taiwan took 4th place in her 1st triathlon.
Olympic Triathlon
The day began with beautiful sunny weather, mild humidity and a temperature around 30 degrees. With a 8.30am start and plenty of shade on the course the heat wouldn't play to much part in the results. With the field split into 6 wave starts it would help ease the washing machine we experience last year. The race started on time with the elite men, women and under 25's heading off at 8.30am. Everyone tread cautiously over the slippery, somewhat rocky and dangerous start. Hsieh Sheng-Yan (謝昇諺) had his usual outstanding swim clearing away from the pack with a fast young swimmer 龔勤政. In behind was Yang Mao Yong (楊茂雍), Wang Hao-Xiang(王顥翔), Craig Johns and with an amazing swim Wei Jin Jun (魏振展). In the women's race 謝旻珊 was leading with Li Jenny (李筱瑜) and Wang Sally (汪旖文) tight on her heals. The first lap was nice to have clear water around the triangular course. Everyone took it easy, with many slipping as we crossed the mudflats to head out for lap two. The lead swimmers encountered many breaststrokers swimmers with rescue tubes as we caught up to swimmers from wave #2 and #3. It wasn't as bad as last year but still dangerous for all athletes as swimmers dodged each other in vain not to get kicked or swum over. Onto dryland and Hsieh Sheng-Yan(謝昇諺) and 龔勤政 strided away with over a 1minute lead up the tough 500m uphill section to the transition. This part is pretty demanding on the body as blood is shunted from the arms and upper body to the legs as the body goes from lying flat (swimming) to upright (running). Lots of light-headed people and jelly legs. Yang Mao Yong (楊茂雍), Wang Hao-xiang(王顥翔), Craig Johns and Wei Jin Jun (魏振展) (showing that hard work in training pays off) were all packed together as they exited transition. 謝旻珊, Li Jenny (李筱瑜) and Wang Sally (汪旖文) were all within 18 seconds of each other setting up for an exciting race.
Onto the bike and Hsieh was powering away like a man on a mission. This boy has certainly improved his cycling and was making life difficult for the competitors behind. Yang looked super strong as he powered away from Johns on the steeper hills. By the half way mark of the bike Hsieh, Yang and Johns were all together. No one was giving an inch. The other contenders were finding the going tough as the technical hills started to take there toll. 1st time Olympic distance competitor Ceri Lines put it "The road bike section was pretty intense and felt like racing through a video game hauling up the hills and speeding down the hairpin bends." Meanwhile in the women's race Li was showing her superior cycling strength powering away from the other girls. She has been very dominant in this discipline over recent years and her competitors will have to work hard on their cycling to have any chance of beating her this year. Competitors did a fantastic job of staying right and making the tight technical course a safe one. With many blind corners and cyclists going both ways it was a great to have everyone working to help each other. On the final 10km Yang and Johns dropped Hsieh and set about getting ready for the run. Johns came into transition with a 10 second gap on Yang. Yang has spent alot of time improving his cycling this year. He set a goal of winning this race at the start of the year and knew to have any chance he would need to have a great cycle leg.
A fast transition and onto the run, Johns led for the first 1km before Yang gradually cleared away. Behind Hsieh was struggling to keep pace as his super quick swim and ride was taking an effect. Wang, this years most improved male athlete was running quickly. He caught Hsieh inside the last km's with the second fastest run of the day. Johns had an improved run for this year but wasn't able to match the outstanding ability of Yang who recorded a 37:25 10km run. Yang won in a time of 2hr6min22seconds, a full 2min30 ahead of Johns. In 5th place was 李瑋 and with an unusually slow run and below his best race, Wei rounded out the top 6. In the women's race Li held her 7minute advantage off the bike to win in 2hr27min56secs with Wang in 2nd and 雲春萍 3rd. All girls ran 46minutes for the 10km.
Its really exciting in Taiwan at present with 6 males that on their day could win. With Hsieh, Wang, Wei, Yang and Lee all under the age of 22 there are some exciting times ahead for the sport. With support, guidance and confidence these boys have the world at their feet and could be very competitive on the professional ITU triathlon circuit. Lets get behind them as they use their wonderful potential and head towards a spot at the London 2012 Olympics. Li and Wang show lots of potential and will need to improve both their swimming and running to be competitive on the world circuit. They have the potential, they just need to put in the hard yards, train smart and race fast. There is a lack of female competitors in Taiwan and some creative initiatives need to be put in place to improve the image of female sport and enhance the numbers of females competing in Taiwan.
Please feel free to send me a report on how your race went. It will be placed under race reports and allow athletes to learn and enjoy your experiences with you.
Happy Training
TaiwanRacing
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