Geoff Williamson capped off an incredible debut season in multisport yesterday when he completed the rare double of winning both the Otago open men's triathlon and duathlon titles.
Earlier this year, Williamson won the Otago triathlon title on the Macandrew Bay course, two months after completing his first ironman at Challenge Wanaka in 10hr 36min 25sec.
Yesterday, he showed his natural ability in his first duathlon, completing the 10km run, 40km bike and 5km run course, based from the Mosgiel Motorcycle Club, in 1hr 58min 57sec.
He attacked from the gun, applying pressure on the field to record 36min 6sec for the run, and took a 1min 44sec lead into the bike section, where he posted a slick 1hr 2min 33sec, extending the lead to 4min 18sec.
''It felt really good, actually,'' Williamson said at the finish.
The result has given Williamson, a Dunedin soft tissue therapist and coach, food for thought.
His long-term goal is age-group competition at the world championships next year. More immediately, he plans another crack at Challenge Wanaka, preceded by the Luxmore Grunt mountain race in December and the South Island half-ironman championships at Lake Hood, in November.
With Williamson so dominant, a battle took place for second and third. Steven Morrison took control over the second half of the bike section to clinch the silver medal in 2hr 4min 22sec.
Ian Graham was third in 2hr 9min 26sec.
Sophie Wilkinson made sure daylight was always going to finish second in the open women's title, as she completed the course in 2hr 17min 22sec.
Wilkinson (23), a medical student, attacked the 10km run to record 39min 5sec, and hold a sizeable lead going into the bike section, where she completely buried her opponents with a strong ride, despite using a borrowed bike and it feeling uncomfortable.
''It was really tough going into that last run and getting off the bike. My legs were like lead weights,'' she said.
It took Wilkinson almost 2km to settle into the 5km run to the finish.
Wilkinson, another in her debut year, admitted afterwards that cycling was new to her, whereas swimming and running were more familiar disciplines. She competed with some success in regional competition in both before leaving Britain three years ago.
Second was Karen Rasmussen in 2hr 38min 26sec and Sophie Luther finished third in 2hr 49min 28sec.
The junior championships were held over a 5km run, 20km bike and 2.5km run course and were keenly contested. Aaron Lynch won the junior men's title in 1hr 5min 41sec, and Julia Hunt the junior women's in 1hr 17min 20sec.
