Emily speeds to second win in women's tri

Emily Marfell picked up the pace to notch her second consecutive victory in the Well and Good Marlborough Women’s Triathlon yesterday.

In 2019, the Blenheim GP finished in 51 minutes 22.4 seconds, yesterday she ran, cycled and swam to her second victory in the iconic Marlborough event, taking nearly two minutes off her previous best with a time of 49.42.2.

Neve McKenzie heads for the transition area after another strong effort on the run.

After duelling for the lead with 12-year-old Neve McKenzie in the run, Emily got her nose in front coming into the first transition and was never headed.

After a powerful bike leg she entered the pool complex well clear of second-placed Nikita Gane, a previous winner who finished in 50.52.9, and third-placed Rebekah Anderson.

Emily was chuffed to go back-to-back in an event she has a real affinity for.

“I won it last year but I thought it was a bit of a fluke, so it’s really exciting to win it this year also.

“There were some really good girls chasing me so I’m pleased to beat them, because there is some real talent there.

“Neve [who finished fourth] took off like a rocket on the run and I was really glad to get past her in the last k … then I expected people to reel me in on the bike so I was pleased to see at the turn that there was a bit of a margin.

“I’m a terrible swimmer so I knew I needed a huge margin [at the pool]. It’s quite a unique triathlon, having the swim at the end, just the fatigue and trying to catch your breath when you jump in after working so hard on the bike. It makes it a real challenge … 100 metres feels like a kilometre.”

Emily was full of praise for the event organisers who persevered in such a difficult year to stage the event.

“Cheers to Mark [Grammer] and his team for putting it on despite the reduced numbers … and still being as enthusiastic. We are very lucky … it’s just good to see people out here,” said Emily.

She admitted she was inspired by likes of Wynne Garrick, who has competed in every women’s tri since its inception, and Vicki Green, who has missed just one. Both were on deck again yesterday.

“They are my inspiration, hopefully I can say in 20 years that I am still turning up,” added Emily.

The event, New Zealand’s oldest women-only triathlon, was contested for the 38

th

time, with 120 entrants this year. Unlike traditional triathlons, it was run in reverse order; starting with a run/walk, leading into a cycle and finishing with a short swim.

It comprised a 5km run, mainly along the Taylor River bank, followed by a 14km cycle leg up to the landfill on Taylor Pass Road and finished with a 100m swim at the Aquatic Centre.