Adam Martin on his way to winning the Marton Triathlon long course this morning.
Adam Martin on his way to winning the Marton Triathlon long course this morning.
The finishing order was reversed for this year's Top 3 in the long course event at the 3rd annual Marton Mitre 10 Marton triathlon, held at Rangitikei College this morning.
The 177 pre-race registrations plus the walk-up on the day, which included several relay teams, took the total number of entries to an estimated 250 people, consistent with 2018 and still well up on the inaugural triathlon with 127.
"It's a steady climb [of numbers]," said organiser Marie Kinloch.
The favourites for the long course event – a 300m swim of Marton Pool, followed by an 18km bike ride and 6km run on a looping course – were the Manawatu-based trio of 2018 winner David Martin, brother Adam Martin and Sam Bentham.
David Martin had beaten his younger brother and Bentham last year when they took a wrong turn out on the country course and had to back track.
But this time, Adam Martin, 18, and Bentham, 19, swept ahead, with Martin coming across the finishline a few steps ahead of Bentham in 52m 51s, followed just over a minute back by brother David.
Runnerup Sam Bentham, left, congratulations third place-getter David Martin, at the finishline at Rangitikei College.
The pair had to wait for the official winner as Martin had started the race six seconds ahead of Bentham in the pool, with all competitors wearing electronic bracelets on their arm or calf to record their exact time.
Organisers had also started off the medium and short course athletes a little earlier than planned to help avoid congestion at transitions and other points on the track.
"It was pretty good, quite tough," Adam Martin said.
"The run was quite hard, especially with Sam chasing me.
"It was a better course than last year. More obvious.
"I was 30 seconds in front off the bike, Sam ran probably 20 seconds into me [time] on the run."
Having started in the pool after the Martin's and climbing out amongst a group of competitors, Bentham, had to work his way through traffic trying to make up the difference.
"It was hard to tell after that first lap on the bike, because I couldn't see them.
"Had to find them on the run."
The pair were happy to have gone under the 53 minute mark, quicker than the 2018 course in warm conditions, compared to overcast and cool today.
"Pretty solid, a good hit out," Bentham said.
"You can't really compare [because] the course is different every time," Martin added.
Both Martin brothers and Bentham will be competing in two races at the the Continental Cup, being held in April.
Bentham, a Massey student, said they were enjoying having another amateur triathlon event being held close to their own backyard.
"It's a change of scenery from the club triathlon's we have in Linton and Feilding. Changes it up a bit."
John Bryant, left and Oliver Jones race in the children's event.
Results
Individual
Long Course – Women: 1. Jennifer Sweny, 1:04.29; 2. Melissa Denman; 3. Heather Neill; 4. Francis Madden; 5. Rima Carlson. Men: 1. Adam Martin 52.51; 2. Sam Bentham; 3. David Martin; 4. Sam Parry; 5.William Leong.
