Event: ITU African Continental Cup, Mauritius
Date: 18th December
Position: 1st place
Jane Waugh (pictured right with her gold medal) from Dromore, Co. Down becomes Irelands first winner of an ITU Elite Triathlon.
This great result should make Jane Ireland’s top ranked elite in the 2005 ITU world rankings (when updated)
Jane Waugh couldnt have asked for her season to end on a better note. Her 2005 season did not get off to a good start. Actually, it looked like she was going to have no season. In March she was diagnosed with Iron Deficiency, Anaemia, and then, just as she was getting over that, she broke her foot in July.
Despite her misfortune Jane returned to South Africa in October to commence training. My training has been going exceptionally well since my return to South Africa. It was decided that doing some ITU African Races would be good experience for Jane. Her second race was last weekend in Mauritius.
With a temperature of between 38-40 degrees, coupled with humidity levels of 95% the race in Mauritius was going to be very challenging.
The race did not get start until 8.45am and already the sun was extremely hot. The non-wetsuit swim was held in the beautiful Indian Ocean (25degrees). It was a 2 lap out and back course. Jane found sighting in the swim very difficult along with the added difficulty of a strong current and of course the distraction from the very beautiful fish below her! Janes bike section was extremely strong. It was the perfect course for Jane, undulating with a forceful wind. Jane dominated the bike leg. The run was not pleasant. It consisted of a trail run mostly on a sandy path. The four laps felt like they were never going to end. This was the most difficult run I have ever completed.
Crossing the finish line as the first girl and fifth overall (Men included) in my second ITU race was worth every painstaking minute. I must say it really did take me a few days of relaxing along this paradise island to make a full recovery! Jane has returned to South Africa and is back training in preparation for the 2006 season.
Jane earned a maximum 200 points in Mauritius, bringing her annual ITU Points total to an unofficial 343 points.
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