ID :
198922
Wed, 08/03/2011 - 11:43
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/198922
The shortlink copeid
Abu Dhabi's Kristin Moller snatches Ironman UK win
Bolton, UK - Aug 3, 2011 (WAM) - Abu Dhabi Triathlon Team made it back-to-back European victories this week as the high-performance outfit's newest recruit, Kristin Moller, smashed the Ironman UK female course record to take her debut win. The German's lung-bursting result comes hard-on-the-heels of her enigmatic captain, Faris Al-Sultan, storming to a dominating win at last week's Frankfurter Sparkasse European Ironman Championship.
The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA)-backed duo's results earn them automatic qualification into the sport's pinnacle competition - the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, this October, which Al-Sultan won in 2005.
"My entry in the UK race was a last minute decision as I was unable to compete in Ironman Europe last week due to a bike fault. It is really funny how these things work out. It was a hard race but it felt good, especially on the run. That was faster than I thought for sure," said Moller, whose previous best Ironman finish was 2nd in last year's Wisconsin, USA event.
It wasn't all easy going for the 28-year-old, as her opening swim saw her lose vital minutes from fellow countrywomen, Diane Riesler, and defending champion Yvette Grice of Great Britain who led coming out of the water. Widely regarded as one of the toughest bike legs on the Ironman circuit, the North West England course in Bolton provided a stern test for Moller, who chose to keep her strength for her favoured run leg.
And her strategy paid off, as the former marathon runner powered past then leader Riesler, with a split time almost equalling that of record breaking male elite, Aaron Farlow of Australia, to finish in a stunning 9h19m04s - six and a half minutes ahead of the chasing female pack.
It is the third Ironman win for Abu Dhabi Triathlon Team this season after the UK's Rachel Joyce also clinched her way to a maiden victory in Lanzarote with a compelling wire-to-wire victory. It now means that half of the six-person Abu Dhabi team have automatically qualified for Kona - a significant achievement in its own right.
Abu Dhabi Triathlon Team, created by ADTA to further the emirate's performance athletics' credentials globally, will compete in more than 30 top international events this season, including the Ironman and 70.3 series, and the World Championships. - Emirates News Agency, WAM
The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA)-backed duo's results earn them automatic qualification into the sport's pinnacle competition - the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, this October, which Al-Sultan won in 2005.
"My entry in the UK race was a last minute decision as I was unable to compete in Ironman Europe last week due to a bike fault. It is really funny how these things work out. It was a hard race but it felt good, especially on the run. That was faster than I thought for sure," said Moller, whose previous best Ironman finish was 2nd in last year's Wisconsin, USA event.
It wasn't all easy going for the 28-year-old, as her opening swim saw her lose vital minutes from fellow countrywomen, Diane Riesler, and defending champion Yvette Grice of Great Britain who led coming out of the water. Widely regarded as one of the toughest bike legs on the Ironman circuit, the North West England course in Bolton provided a stern test for Moller, who chose to keep her strength for her favoured run leg.
And her strategy paid off, as the former marathon runner powered past then leader Riesler, with a split time almost equalling that of record breaking male elite, Aaron Farlow of Australia, to finish in a stunning 9h19m04s - six and a half minutes ahead of the chasing female pack.
It is the third Ironman win for Abu Dhabi Triathlon Team this season after the UK's Rachel Joyce also clinched her way to a maiden victory in Lanzarote with a compelling wire-to-wire victory. It now means that half of the six-person Abu Dhabi team have automatically qualified for Kona - a significant achievement in its own right.
Abu Dhabi Triathlon Team, created by ADTA to further the emirate's performance athletics' credentials globally, will compete in more than 30 top international events this season, including the Ironman and 70.3 series, and the World Championships. - Emirates News Agency, WAM
