Duathlon: Dunster warms up for world champs

Some of New Zealand's finest endurance athletes geared up for upcoming international competition yesterday, powering around The Lakes as part of the Jamis 2013 Duathlon Series.

Aiden Dunster, who finished second in the 18-19 age group in the Duathlon World Championships last year, won the men's race in an ideal lead-up to this year's world championships in Canada in just over two weeks.

His time of 45.17 was good enough for a 24-second winning margin over second-placed Rob Dallimore, while Rob Backler finished third in a time of 46.26.

Dunster described the race as "a bit tough", but was not blowing too hard as he crossed the finish line without a competitor in sight.

"It was a training day really," said Dunster.

"It's always a bit of a killer this course; it's a bit short and quick."

Dunster's plan had been to stick with noted cyclist Dallimore for the bike leg, and it worked.

"I kept up with him on the bike - though he killed me a bit there. I knew I had the legs on the run, so I managed to hang in there and then kick away."

The ex-Mount Maunganui College student is a lot faster this year than he was at the corresponding stage of last season, and expects "a hard couple of hours" when he lines up in a field of 18 in Ottowa in early August.

He's setting his sights higher this time around after not understanding his true capabilities last year.

"I was pretty stoked with finishing second last time - I didn't expect to make the podium so I was thrilled.

"It was my best result to date, but I just want to get better and better."

Sarah Backler, who won the women's race by more than seven minutes as part of her build-up for the Xterra World Championships in Hawaii in late-October, will compete along with her husband Matt in Canada before the couple travel to another lead-up event in Lake Tahoe.

It will be Matt's third world championships after debuting at the event in 2010, while Sarah will line up for the second time in successive years.

The race, roughly consisting of the same distances as an Olympic triathlon, swaps the traditional bike and run legs for mountain bike and trail running sections.

Sarah says having a husband in the sport has both its pluses and minuses when it comes to training.

"I think we both understand when we are out training, He's a lot faster than me so I can draft behind him a little bit."

Triathlon Tauranga vice president Paul Miller said the event is one of a series of five duathlons offered by the organisation through the winter months.

"It started off about five years ago as winter training for those going to worlds, but now has developed into an event for the community, catering for all ages, sizes and abilities," said Miller.

The event has proven a masterstroke for Triathlon Tauranga, which has seen an increase in club members from 145-220 over the last three seasons.

Jamis 2013 Duathlon Series

results

Men

Aiden Dunster - 45.17

Rob Dallimore - 45.41

Matt Backler - 46.26

Women

Sarah Backler - 49.33

Rachael Smith - 55.52

Anna Barrett - 56.55

Boys

Chris Wotton - 12.28

Alex Burton - 12.30

Matthew Kirkwood - 13.04

Girls

Lucy Bartlett - 13.54

Asa Banbury - 16.06

Monique Bartlett - 16.11