Kretz takes eighth at World Cup in Tongyeong; Sobey 13th
Canadian Liam Donnelly finishes 18th
Photo by:
Kevin Mackinnon
Tokyo and Rio Olympian Amelie Kretz continued her drive to a third Olympic appearance this weekend with an eighth-place finish at the World Triathlon Cup Tongyeong in South Korea. Kretz also finished eighth at the World Triathlon Cup Bergen in August. After being off for the first half of 2022 due to injury, Kretz made a comeback to racing with a 15th-place finish at the Commonwealth Games. (Pictured above.)
Kretz had a tough start position for the swim and ended up missing the lead pack out of the water.
“It was a bit frustrating for me on the bike,” Kretz said after the race. “I always want to compete at the front and that was the first one for me to not make the first group on the bike. I didn’t have the legs I needed to close the gap in the first three-to-four minutes. I tried to get everyone motivated to work, and a few of us worked well for the first three laps, but the group lost motivation and we lost so much time.”
A pack of 10 got off the bike together ahead of the chase group that included Kretz, and she was able to run her way to eighth in a time of 1:58:44.
“I just tried to make the most out of it on the run and moved up in the field,” Kretz said. “I’m happy with where my fitness is at. I know all the pieces are there. I just have to put everything together on the day, have to keep racing and I know it will all come together soon.”
The race was won by France’s Audrey Merle in 1:57:08.
Sobey takes 13th in “footrace”
Martin Sobey found himself in a large main pack on the bike, which meant that the men’s race in Tongyeong was decided on the run.
“Overall, I’m happy with how the race wet today,” Sobey said. “I had a good swim to set myself up well, but after two laps on the bike most of the field was in the main group.”
Sobey and countryman Liam Donnelly ended up running together for part of the hilly bike course, with Sobey taking 13th in 1:45:51 and Donnelly finishing 18th in 1:46:26.
American Matthew McElroy won the race in 1:44:49.
You can find full results from the race here.
