Australian Long Course Triathlon Championships (2.80.20) - 2XU Falls Creek Triathlon

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February 13, 2012

FALLS AT THE CREEK AND A DOCTOR ON HIS BIKE

Mitch Anderson felt like the triathlon gods eventually shone down on him in the second half of an interesting day in the office for the 36-year-old medico during the Australian Long Course Titles at a chilly 2XU Falls Creek Triathlon last Saturday.

And two of his fellow competitors were left to think the same thing after a nasty fall left them spread-eagled on the road.

The Melbourne-based elite triathlete and medico had what he described as a rare “panic attack” in the two kilometre swim but pulled himself together to start the challenging 80 kilometre bike trek before the final 20km run in the testing heights of Victoria’s Alpine National Park.

Race Organisers, Super Sprint Events, in conjunction with Triathlon Australia had brought the race start forward 90 minutes after observing that inclement weather conditions could well be heading towards Falls Creek, the new  but exciting new venue for the Australian Long Course Championship.

Water temperature was at 15 degrees, there was next to no wind and the air temperature was hovering between seven and eight degrees for the 300 strong field that had headed to the high altitude Falls Creek course, set between 1200 and 1800 metres above sea level.

But two laps into the bike and after he admitted there were some challenging conditions Dr Anderson stopped to help two fellow competitors, lying motionless on the side of the road, with concerned officials by their side.

“I had encountered this tricky section of the course on the first lap and knew what had happened and had no hesitation in rushing to their aid,” said Dr Anderson.

“The first things we had to establish were that they were breathing and not unconscious and knowing the ambulance was on its way.

“They were both shivering, no doubt in a state of shock and had suffered some broken bones but after consulting with the officials, we agreed they would both be in good care with the ambulance not far away. In fact it was very well handled.

For Anderson, who works in various facets of the medical industry from pathology to clinical research, orthopedic surgery and trainee sports practitioner, it was a case of getting “back on the bike” to complete the rest of the race, knowing that two of his fellow competitors were in safe hands.

And it just got better and better for Anderson who went on to produce the race of his life, clocking the fourth fastest bike split of 2:09.30 and a 20km run split of 1:17.28 to finish third in the elite men’s category behind Sydney’s Tim Reed and Tasmania’s evergreen Joe Gambles.

“Somebody must have been shining down on me and looking after me sending through some good vibes because from when the time I got back on the bike everything started to fall into place and I had a great race to finish third,” said Anderson.

Reed, eighth out of the water, worked hard in the early stages of the bike to latch on to the leading group but it was Luke Bell and Gambles who dominated early and opened up over a minute on Reed moving into the run.

Bell rolled his ankle and didn’t push himself with Ironman Melbourne on his radar, leaving Gambles and Reed to fight it out on the run, with Anderson charging home.

Reed (3hr 54 mins 15.1secs) resplendent in his “orange budgie smugglers” pulled away on the second half of the run to score an impressive victory over Gambles (3:55.17.4) and Anderson (4:00.29.2) with Jan Rehula (4:02.15.2) fourth and Bell (4:03.23.5) fifth.
 
The women’s race was another feather in the cap for the extraordinary athlete Melissa Rollison, who just keeps getting better and better; in what has been a fairytale two-year transition from athletics into the world of triathlon.
 

The celebrated track and field performer and 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games silver medallist in the 3000m steeplechase, has already chalked up victories in the 70.3 World Championships, the 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championships and the Olympic distance Noosa Triathlon.
 
Her taste of her first cold water triathlon may well have been a shock to her system but apart from adding gloves to her next Falls Creek adventure, showed she was very much at home, running away from defending champion Madeline Oldfield.
 
Rollison produced an eye-catching 20km split time of 1:18.10 – easily in the top 10 splits overall to win in 4:14.39.0 and a convincing win over Oldfield (4:24.40.5).
 
Super Sprint General Manager Glenn Turnor was excited about their first venture into the Australian Long Distance Championship race at Falls Creek.
 
“The reaction from everyone on the day was very encouraging for the future. The athletes said it was a cracking race to be part of, the venue was amazing and I know Triathlon Australia agree it can only get bigger and better,” said Turnor.
 
“We could certainly look towards handling a field of 500 in the future.”