Long-distance star takes 10th straight (and 11th overall) title at prestigious Olympic-distance Noosa Triathlon
Ashleigh Gentle's incredible performance would have placed her 7th in the men's race! Brayden Mercer wins his first title in debut appearance
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Noosa Triathlon
The Noosa Triathlon, celebrating its 41st anniversary this year, has long been considered one of the world’s most prestigious Olympic-distance races.
The event started in 1983 with just 180 athletes (with a number getting lost on the bike). Since then it has grown to be the largest triathlon in the world – last year there were 7,500 athletes in the race, and this year the number grew to 8,000 participants in the event that includes a 1.5-km swim, 40-km bike and 10-km run.
This year’s race saw Ashleigh Gentle, a two-time Olympian who is in the hunt for the T100 World Triathlon Series championship title, take a record-setting 11th title, her 10th in a row. The 33-year-old was 10th out of the water after the 1.5 km swim, but had ridden her way to the front of the race by the mid-way point of the 40-km bike. Once on the run, Gentle, who is considered one of the fastest runners in the sport, cruised to a 10-minute win over countrywomen Richelle Hill and Natalie Van Coevorden. Gentle’s performance would have placed her seventh overall in the men’s pro race!
Noosa Triathlon – Women’s results
- Ashleigh Gentle – 1:46:57
- Richelle Hill – 1:56:58
- Natalie Van Coevorden – 1:58:49
- Sophie Malowiecki – 1:59:01
- Tara Sosinski – 1:59:20
- Nicole Van Der Kaay – 2:01:39
- Chloe Hartnett – 2:02:26
- Lotte Wilms – 2:04:05
- Charlotte McShane – 2:04:15
- Mikayla Messer – 2:04:33
Mercer wins in debut appearance
20-year-old Brayden Mercer made his Noosa debut in style, leading the men out of the water. The Australian traded leads with South Africa’s Jamie Riddle on the bike, with the South African leading the way into T2. Mercer would move to the front of the race by the 2.5 km point of the run and never look back as he charged to the win over New Zealand’s Tayler Reid, with former Noosa champ Luke Willian rounding out the podium.
Noosa Triathlon – men’s results
- Brayden Mercer – 1:43:20
- Tayler Reid – 1:43:58
- Luke Willian – 1:44:15
- Jamie Riddle – 1:44:27
- Jake Birtwhistle – 1:45:30
- Kurt McDonald – 1:46:08
- Caleb Noble – 1:47:53
- Jack Sosinski – 1:48:43
- Jack Crome – 1:49:02
- Joe Begbie – 1:49:22
