Clark takes high road to claim coastal title
Sam Clark navigated the MinghaDeception route like a mountain goat on the way to claiming his first Coast to Coast men’s longest day title.
The Whakatane competitor produced a storming performance on the 33km mountain run, delivering a 2hr 57min effort to build a whopping 22-minute advantage by Klondyke Corner, which was effectively the race.
Clark, 25, had to settle for second last year behind three-time defending champion Braden Currie, but was in a league of his own on Saturday.
He crossed the finish line at New Brighton Beach in 11hr 37min 7secs, more than 58 minutes clear of veteran Bob McLachlan (Wanaka), who was second, and visiting Australian Alex Hunt, who was a further two minutes back.
With Currie focusing on triathlon in an ambitious bid to get to the Rio Olympics, Clark was touted as the frontrunner in the men’s field. He set up victory during the mountain run.
Clark was in a lead group of 15 cyclists entering Aickens Corner, but powered ahead on the run and was never seen again by his rivals.
‘‘This is the performance I wished I had last year,’’ he said.
‘‘That was the game plan all along. Have a lightning-fast transition and be out and away before anyone notices I was gone.’’
After pushing Currie all the way last year, Clark, said it was a special feeling to go one better.
Before the race, he talked up his chances and backed up those words with an emphatic showing in all three disciplines.
‘‘Only those who know me well can appreciate just how long and how much I wanted this. It’s quite overwhelming to tick that box and finally be able to call myself a Coast to Coast champion.’’
Clark emulated the achievement of fellow Whakatane man Neil Jones, who captured the longest day title in 1996.
With about 30km to go on the 67km kayak up the Waimakariri River, Clark was in pain, but kept pushing through.
‘‘Everyone hurts out there and I was certainly hurting on a number of occasions.’’
Second-placed McLachlan, 44, a noted kayaker, was competing in the full race for the first time since 1991 when he lined up in the twoday event as an 18-year-old.
He had the second fastest longest day men’s kayak time [4hr 32min] which enabled him to surge ahead and pass several athletes.
‘‘I was hoping for top 10, so second is outstanding. I’m too old for this sort of carry on,’’ McLachlan said.
Teenager Hayden Wilde, 18, completed a stellar day for Whakatane athletes. He held on to his overnight lead in the two-day men’s individual event to win in a time of 12:18.47 from Gerard Morrison and Peter Olds.
Mt Maunganui’s Anna Barrett also retained her advantage from the first day to overcome Isla Smith and Natalie Jakobs in a winning time of 13:45.02.