FIVE IN A ROW FOR TRIATHLON CHAMPION
BETTEN CEMENTS TRI CHAMP STATUS
SAM Betten’s name has almost become synonymous with victory in the Dirt n Dust Triathlon.
The Brisbane triathlete made it five in a row with a personal best time of 59mins 40secs for the 800m swim, 25km cycle and 5km run event.
It was a familiar story at the annual race at Julia Creek, billed as Australia’s toughest triathlon, with both Betten and 2014 women’s winner Amanda Gowing defending their titles.
Betten said the conditions in the western Queensland triathlon were just as difficult as previous years, with a head wind causing some slowing on the cycle leg back into town.
The 27- year- old finished ahead of Townsville duo Ed Dawson ( 1: 05: 55) and Connor McKay ( 1: 06: 47), who ro u n d e d out the
podium.
‘‘ It’s a great feeling to have five in a row
“It took me a while to crack this race,’’ Betten said.
“I remember doing it for the first two years placing second and third; it’s really a tough race to crack and you’ve got to get the equation right and the right expenditure out there.
“The last five years I’ve got it spot on, so it’s a great feeling to have five in a row and it’s something that no one’s ever done before so it’s pretty special.”
Gowing, of Mount Isa, first won her title last year and clocked the course in 1: 16: 35, ahead of Townsville’s Pam Pemberton ( 1: 19: 50) and Rebecca Ungerman ( 1: 20: 25), of Ipswich.
She said it was encouraging to see the growth of the sport in northwest Queensland.
“It was good to see so many people from the northwest giving it a go. My tri club, the Isa Rats, were out here and there’s more triathlon clubs building now like the Cloncurry Cats and Julia Creek Scorchers, so it’s just great to see all these people getting together.”