Murray races to big pay day in Australia

SOUTH Africa’s Richard Murray is on top of the world after sealing the lucrative Super League Hamilton Island triathlon in Australia by finishing third and as overall winner yesterday.

The two-time Olympian was crowned after three days of red-hot racing on the spectacular Great Barrier Reef island to take home the winner’s prize of $100 000.

Formats of the race varied over the three days with the orders of swim/bike/run being swopped frequently and taking the world’s best athletes out of their comfort zones. Distances were 300m of swimming, 6km of biking and 2km of running.

There was also an individual cycling time trial thrown in on day two.

Yesterday’s final day saw three races with the first 15 in race one going through to the penultimate race which saw only the top 10 making the final. The first race saw compatriot Henri Schoeman end eighth and Murray 13th. After the second race the two consolidated with positions of fourth (Murray) and fifth to ensure their spot in the grand final.

After two days of racing and duking it out for points, Murray was left in the comfortable position of knowing a top seven finish in yesterday’s final race would see him win the event.

The final points standings saw Murray topping the table with 56 points, seven ahead of world champion Maria Mola of Spain, while Schoeman took 11th with 25 points. – ANA