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Triple Threat

Tri-Time: Keane shows class across two disciplines in Galway

Meanwhile, Katie Cooke edged the full-length race in west Cork.

GALWAY BAY WAS the site of the National Aquathlon Championships on Saturday.

There the country’s top athletes battled it out over a 2km swim, followed by a 10km run. Pro triathlete, Bryan Keane, showed his class exiting the water in first position after a 26mins 04secs swim.

Once on firm ground, Keane extended his lead and as a former international runner, Keane covered the 10km course in a blistering 33min 13secs to win in just over an hour. Stephen Early got the better of Kevin Thornton thanks to a 35min 50sec run split to take second place.

In the women’s race it was Lizzie Lee from Cork who stole the show. Lee exited the water in 30mins 47secs in third position but, like Keane, used her international running experience to pull out a comfortable lead of almost two and a half minutes at the finish.

Kinetica Olympic Distance National Champion, Aoife Lynch, finished second in 1hr 12mins 34secs followed by Marie Boland who took third place.

In the Sprint Distance race, the TI Junior Squad came to the fore, with Emma Sharkey and Stephen Rooney taking the spoils.

Lough Ine

Meanwhile in the wilds of west Cork, the Lough Ine Challenge Triathlon took place. As part of the Vodafone National Series there was no shortage of competition, with athletes eager to scoop up valuable series points.

Trevor Woods continued his run of good form, adding yet another podium finish to the growing list and this time taking an outright win. Woods was strong over the 1500m swim and 40km bike and held on well over the 10km run to win in a time of 2hr 09mins 32secs.

Eric Wolfe lost time during the bike leg and couldn’t make it up over the run so had to settle for second just over two minutes behind. Neal O’Grady was also challenging for top spot but faded to third during the run.

For the women, it was a much closer affair with just 16 seconds separating first and second. Current Kinetica Sprint Distance National Champion, Katie Cooke, got the better of former World Age Group Champion, Deirdre Casey, with Cooke finishing in a time of 2hr 24mins 22secs. Katie Fitzgerald rounded out the top three just a few minutes behind.

(Picture Creit: James Shelley/TI Media)

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