Tight racing and exciting finishes have highlighted the return of Super Saturday at the Garmin Noosa Triathlon.
Thousands lined the streets of Noosa to take in the action-packed racing, with it being the first full Super Saturday schedule at the event since 2019.
Racing got underway with the Australian Open Criterium women’s race, with 13 riders battling it out over a 30 minute plus three lap race on the Noosa Parade course.
Defending champion Lauren Perry made it back-to-back wins, taking the title ahead of Isabelle Carnes and Jessica Pratt.
“I’m really stoked, really happy to pull it off again,” said Perry. “My teammates did the work for me out there today and all I had to do was deliver in the finish. They made my job really easy and I’m so proud of all our efforts.
It’s really nice to have teammates that I can trust to do the job and that are strong enough to do the job at hand and I can’t wait to celebrate with them tonight. “Honestly, it’s the first time I’ve ever won anything back-to-back and it’s something that I thought was bloody hard to do and I’m really stoked to do that because I think it just instils a little bit of faith in myself that I can do these things and it’s not a one hit wonder, so hopefully the future holds a few more wins.”
Saturday saw the return of the Legends Triathlon, with nine teams of athletes and celebrities taking to the course for some fun mixed in with plenty of competitiveness.
Legends Triathlon participants included Bondi Lifeguards Anthony ‘Harries’ Carroll and Andrew ‘Reidy’ Reid, Olympians Susie O’Neill, Ky Hurst, Ken Wallace, Jessicah Schipper, Courtney Atkinson and Craig Mottram.
Australian Rugby League and Rugby Union representative Mat Rogers raced alongside Jessicah Schipper and Nathan Johnston and enjoyed the return of the event.
“That was a lot of fun, you know it’s just great to be back here as a whole again and to catch up with a lot of old friends and it’s just a great community event. I put everything into it, I was a fair way behind off the bat, it’s about fun but we’re all competitors, you know, so we all want to go out and win it,” said Rogers. “I’ve never bloody won this race, I want to win it and I haven’t won it yet.
“I think when you put a combination of people together like this, you go in there thinking it’s going to be fun and you hear all the talk backstage and it’s scary, we’ve got to come out here and perform. “This is the best fun ever, good health, good people, just all here to celebrate what is a great sport, triathlon.”
The ASICS Noosa Bolt did not disappoint, with Jack Rayner falling just short of setting a new course record across the 5km race on his way to the men’s title, while Caitlin Adams claimed top step in the women’s race.
Rayner set the pace early, going on to cross the line in 13:53, 30 seconds clear of Jack Bruce, with Callum Davies third.
“I had the race record in my mind, I only found out what it was on the start line so it was kind of hard to judge that pace when you run by yourself and you’ve only got your Garmin to look at,” said Rayner. “It doesn’t update exactly right on the pace so, yeah, the first km was a little bit quicker than what I was hoping so I think I paid the price for that a little bit later in the race. It’s still the best one I’ve ever done here, 13:51.
“It was hot – I knew it was going to be warm but everyone’s in the same boat, everyone has to deal with it so it’s nothing I’m not used to. I’ve been here a few times, so I knew what to expect. The last bend here, it gets louder and louder each lap so it makes a huge difference when you’re starting to get tired and everyone’s just giving you that extra boost.”
Caitlin Adams led from start to finish in the women’s race, finishing in 16:05, just ahead of Lauren Ryan, with Rose Davies rounding out the podium.
The day was rounded out with the Australian Open Criterium men’s race, with over 30 riders lining up for the 45 minute plus three lap race.
In a sprint finish Craig Wiggins won his first title in Noosa, just ahead of Kaden Groves and Alexander Edmondson.
“I feel very good, it was a hard race but I’m very happy to take it out. There was a lot of pro riders here so we really had to mark them, couldn’t let them get too far up the road but everyone was chasing everyone today so when I realised that I just conserved my energy,” said Wiggins.
“The atmosphere was incredible, just everyone gathering around you is awesome,” he said. “I’m really keen to come back next year hopefully.”
For more information visit noosatri.com.au/
