Long day at office as classy Clark comprehensive
Kiwi multisport champion Sam Clark has notched his third and most comprehensive triumph in the Coast to Coast multisport race.
Clark won the iconic South Island race by nearly half an hour, proving too strong for the field over the closing kayaking and cycling legs.
Unlike last year, when Clark needed a powerhouse finish to overhaul former champion Braden Currie, the Whakatane athlete eased across the line at Sumner Beach in Christchurch with plenty of breathing room.
His winning time of 11 hours, 14 minutes, 33 seconds was too hot for second-placed Australian Alex Hunt, who crossed more than 29 minutes later. Clark was overjoyed at his third victory.
“This feeling’s second to none. There’s no feeling like it. I feel incredible,” he said.
“They call this the longest day for a reason and what a long day it is. All the stars have to be in line for anybody to get to one side of the country to the other, let alone to win the race. I’m just so happy and so grateful that everything went to plan.”
The 243km traverse which began on Kumara Beach, near Greymouth, was decided on the 70km kayak leg.
Clark entered the Waimakariri River with a lead of a little over two minutes, an advantage he had turned into 14 minutes over Hunt by the midway stage, and held on for the comprehensive victory.
South African Robyn Owen was a comfortable women’s winner, going one better than her runner-up finish in 2017.
She finished well clear of Kiwis Sophie Hart and Simone Maier.
Former two-time winner Hart made some headway over the closing stages in her return to the race following a five-year hiatus but couldn’t close the enormous gap forged by Owen, who finished in 12 hours, 44 minutes, 56 seconds.
Defending champion Elina Ussher finished further back, the 41-year-old denied what would have been a record-equalling fifth win.