Celebrated Australian triathlete Dan Wilson showed there is still “plenty of bark in the old dog” after chalking up another first to win the open class Mooloolaba Triathlon on the Sunshine Coast today.
 
The 31-year-old from Brisbane, who has chalked up a decade-long ITU career, a Commonwealth Games in 2014 and a stirring Noosa victory last year, showed all his silky-smooth triathlon skills in perfect early morning conditions – the Mooloolaba surf showing off it's ideal glassy half-metre waves at the end of the 1500m swim.
 
While in the women’s event, former Gold Coaster-turned Noosa triathlete Annelise Jefferies scored a runaway victory, reveling in the hot, humid conditions she has become used to under coach Nick Croft.
 
Queensland’s long, hot summer conditions continued over a weekend of triathlon celebrations for the Mooloolaba Triathlon Festival’s 25th Anniversary as the open and age grouper competitors chased automatic World Championship selection and double points in the Australian Age Group Championships.

It followed yesterday’s stand out performances from ITU World Cup winners Emma Jackson and rookie Luke Willian as they led the charge around the oceanfront Standard Distance Course.
 
The race also attracted Paralympian and five-time ITU World Champion Bill Chaffey as he sets his sights on Commonwealth Games selection on the Gold Coast on April 8.
 
Chaffey, fourth in the Rio Olympics in the PT1 category, will line up in Devonport next weekend at the OTU Oceania Championships, to secure his place in the Gold Coast ITU Paratriathlon Series race.
 
Wilson, who retired from ITU racing after last year’s World Triathlon Series Grand Final in Cozumel, has transferred his priorities to 70.3 racing but was glad to add the Mooloolaba title to his long list of titles.
 
He was second out of the water, only just behind noted Ironman Clayton Fettell, before the 40km bike course and the 10km run to the finish.
 
As the leaders came into transition off the bike, it was Tim O’Donnell from the USA who led the field home, but it didn’t take Wilson long to take over the front runners position in what would become a real race over the two five kilometre laps.
 
Wilson held on with the fastest 10km split of the day in – clocking 32.58 to O’Donnell’s 33:08.
 
At the finish, it was Wilson (1:49.52) from O’Donnell (1:49.59) and Ironman specialist Luke McKenzie, (second in the Ironman World Championship in 2013) third in 1:54.59.
 
“It was a good field out there for an open, non-drafting event here in Mooloolaba with some of the best in the world in Tim and Luke McKenzie – It was a really good, tough hit out,” said Wilson, who praised the crowd for their support in the run.
 
“I was pretty happy and the 70.3 races (that I do) are getting so quick these days you have to maintain some speed (in races like this) and it was great to have the crowd support.”
 
And there is no rest for Wilson, who is setting his sights on Challenge Melbourne, before the Ironman 70.3 in Busselton and another race in Noumea.

2017 Mooloolaba Triathlon 
Open Men's Race

1. Dan Wilson           1:49:52
2. Tim O'Donnell       1:49:59
3. Luke McKenzie     1:54:59

Open Women's Race
1. Annelise Jefferies   2:05:04
2. Katey Gibb              2:05:38
3. Kirralee Seidel        2:06:48

Full Results

To celebrate the 25th edition of the Mooloolaba Triathlon which doubled as the Australian Age Group Championships 3500 athletes took up the challenge in the steamy conditions. With double points on offer towards qualification to the World Championship in Rotterdam later this year each category was hotly contested. Congratulations to our 2017 Australian Age Group Champions.

Australian Age Group Champions: