American Ian Mikelson overcame the blazing sunshine on his first trip to the Caribbean to win the Men's Olympic Distance Triathlon during the Eighth annual Neil & Massy Rainbow Cup at Turtle Beach, Tobago yesterday. Mikelson completed the grueling course in two hours, six minutes and 16 seconds to comfortably defeat last year's champ Piers Vallance of the UK, who placed second in 2:12:10. Local Ancil Greene (2:14:44) was third to cross the line as he retained his status as the National Triathlon Champion. This year's race proved more competitive than the 2011 edition with several athletes topping Vallance's then winning time of 2:18:14. The 32-year-old Mikelson gained an early advantage during the 1500m swim and maintained his lead throughout the 40km bike ride and 10km run. Speaking after the race, he said he had never had to cope with such hot conditions. "It's my first time in the Caribbean and let me just say that Hawaii's got nothing on this place in terms of humidity. It got pretty hot but I stayed well hydrated and just tried to keep my head about me... I knew Piers would be coming strong and I knew I would have to be fast."
He added that he was impressed by Greene, who he suggested might go on to bigger things if given the right support. "I saw him during the run and I was like 'Oh man, he's fast.' I know you guys don't get as many opportunities to compete down here but I think he's a really talented guy." Among the women, Mikelson former clubmate Kelsey Withrow distinguished herself as the best of the pack by stopping the clock at 2:20:57. Her nearest competition came from German Alexandra Consten (2:25:20), who was followed by defending champ Claire Vallance (2:27:07), the wife of Piers. Withrow, 29, said she was surprised her body had been able to hold up so well under the conditions. "I didn't feel good at all. I woke up sick a couple days ago and was debating whether or not to do the race. After I got off my bike today, I thought 'Well, I'll just give the run a shot' and then I started picking off people in the run, so then I thought 'OK, maybe I'll finish'."
Despite the hype surrounding the winners, the most memorable moment of the day came when 34-year-old triple amputee Rajesh Durbal crossed the line to place 18th. Durbal, an American of Trinidadian parentage, won the hearts of the crowd as they gathered at the finish line to cheer him on. "I knew I was going to finish," he said afterwards. "By the second lap on the run I started seeing stars and feeling dehydrated but I always say to myself that the only way I'm going to come off a course is by an ambulance, so as long as I kept moving forward I knew I'd reach the end... I like to challenge myself and that's the reason I do what I do." Meanwhile, locals Mark London and Nicola DePass won the Male and Female categories in the Sprint Distance Triathlon (750m swim/20km bike/5km run), which took place alongside the longer race. London clocked 1:08:20 to beat Ryan Gunn (1:10:08) and Justin Scott (1:10:32) while DePass (1:16:14), who placed second last year, easily distanced herself from Salome Buglass (1:21:03) and Renny Chin Lee (1:22:13).
RESULTS:
Men Olympic Distance
1. Ian Mikelson (USA) - 2:06:16
2. Piers Vallance (UK) - 2:12:10
3. Ancil Greene (T&T) – 2:14:44
Women Olympic Distance
1. Kelsey Withrow(USA) – 2:20:57
2. Alexandra Consten (Germany) – 2:25:20
3. Claire Vallance (UK) – 2:27:07
Men Sprint Triathlon
1. Mark London (T&T) – 1:08:20
2. Ryan Gunn (T&T) – 1:10:08
3. Justin Scott (T&T) – 1:10:32
Women Sprint Triathlon
1. Nicola DePass (T&T) – 1:16:14
2. Salome Buglass (T&T) – 1:21:03
3. Renny Chin Lee (T&T) – 1:22:13
5k
1. Elvis Turner
2. Michael Honore
3. Ancil Greene
