Gentle takes record for Noosa titles
THE only person that had second thoughts about Ashleigh Gentle creating history at the Noosa Triathlon yesterday was the Queenslander herself.
But the world No.6 need not have worried as she became the first woman in the 36-year history of the event to claim six Noosa Triathlon crowns.
Gentle, 27, surpassed her idol Emma Frodeno (nee Snowsill), who won five times at Noosa during her golden career, and joined former coach Craig Walton as a member of the six-time champion club.
It was Gentle’s fifth-straight triumph in the elite women’s race around the triathlon and tourism mecca and it came after a trademark blistering run leg.
She started the 10km dash around Noosa Parade 38sec behind the leading group of Radka Kahlefeldt, Natalie Van Coevorden and Annabel Luxford but caught them by the halfway mark of the run and powered away.
Van Coevorden and Kahlefeldt filled the minor placings, 50sec after Gentle ran down the blue carpet to the familiar spectator roar.
“(I had) so much doubt. A few people had said, ‘You’ll do so well. You had a great race on the Gold Coast (ITU World grand final)’, but that was seven weeks ago,’’ she said.
“I just had to hold as much fitness as I could. I found it really difficult but I’m always so motivated to get here and still be in good shape.
“It’s a relief. I think I say that every year. To win my sixth title, it will probably only sink in this time next year.”
Gentle will be back in Noosa next year to defend her title for what would be an unprecedented seventh win.
“I always love finishing my year at Noosa and I feel as though I’ve got a few more Noosas left in me,’’ she said.
She will go camping on Moreton Island for the next week to unwind after a long season that included a mixed relay gold medal at Commonwealth Games before focusing on her 2019 campaign that includes the test event for the Tokyo Olympics in August.