Amelia Watkinson and Steven McKenna took the spoils at the PTO-supported Hervey Bay 100 in Australia on Sunday. The 29-year-old New Zealander Watkinson (#19 in the PTO World Rankings) produced a tremendous bike split to take control in Queensland, and never looked back as she roared to victory in a time of 3:34:28.
It was the ideal way to continue Watkinson’s preparation for the PTO 2020 Championship at CHALLENGE DAYTONA® on December 6.
At the line, she was more than seven minutes clear of Chilean Barbara Riveros (3:41:55), with another Daytona invitee – Australia’s Ellie Salthouse – close behind in third.
Salthouse had led out of T1 in her first race in some 13 months, but she was then passed on the bike by the charging Watkinson. Ellie really began to struggle on the run, stopping dramatically before then recovering to hang onto the final podium spot.
Courtney Gilfillan and Meredith Hill claimed fourth and fifth spots respectively, both finishing within 31 seconds of Salthouse.
Aussie McKenna produced the second quickest bike split of the day in the men’s race en route to glory.
The 29-year-old was fastest out of T1 and really capitalised on the bike with a time (1:50:53) which was bettered only by seventh-place man Lachlan Kerin.
At the finish line, McKenna was just under two minutes clear of the field. Simon Hearn and Caleb Noble both made up ground on the run to claim the second and third podium spots.
Further down the field, Tim Reed endured gear issues on the bike but battled on to claim fifth after a dramatic sprint finish with Eddie Vinning. Tim Van Berkel though was a DNF, struggling with illness after the swim.
MALE PRO:
1 Steve McKenna 3:18:16
2 Simon Hearn +1:49
3 Caleb Noble +2:14
4 Trent Thorpe +3:25
5 Eddie Venning / Tim Reed +5:12
FEMALE PRO:
1 Amelia Watkinson 3:34:28
2 Barbara Riveros +7:27
3 Ellie Salthouse +9:40
4 Courtney Gilfillan +11:51
5 Meredith Hill +12:12