Belinda Murray claims top honours at World Triathlon Multisport Championships

Townsville’s World Triathlon Multisport Championships podium was adorned in green and gold on Sunday after Australians claimed top-three positions in the women’s age-group duathlon.

The start of the men's Age-Group Duathlon Standard race. Picture: Wagner Araujo.

Townsville’s World Triathlon Multisport Championships podium was adorned in green and gold on Sunday after Australians claimed top-three positions in the women’s age-group duathlon.

Queenslander Belinda Murray crossed the line first, finishing within a minute of the two-hour mark in a blistering 2:00:40 – two minutes clear of Lesley West’s pursuit and another 60 seconds ahead of bronze winner Demi Caldwell.

Murray said she was stunned to be leading the race during the closing stages of the race as she approached the finish line.

“I’m surprised but it feels amazing, I wasn’t really expecting that today,” Murray said.

“It was tough out there, probably one of the toughest races to do what felt like a 10km time trial and then jumping on the bike is definitely different to the swim, bike, run but it was a beautiful course.

“I come from a triathlon background and today was only my second or third duathlon.

The start of the men's Age-Group Duathlon Standard race. Picture: Wagner Araujo.

“I visited here last year when the qualifiers were on but I was injured so I supported my club members, it’s really nice to be up here and actually race.”

The French team won the 2x2 mixed relay, extending their lead at every timing point with Thomas Laurent and Marion Legrand claiming the World Championship title in 1:05:34.

“It was a good battle with the Belgium team early on, I gave it everything, when I gave the baton to Marion she did a great job because after the first relay she gave me a 15 second lead,” Laurent said.

Great Britain’s James Hodgson and Phoebe Barker took home the silver medal, with Japan’s Ryosuke Kaneda and triple-Olympian Ai Ueda winning bronze.

Matthew Engesser of Australia was the fastest around the para duathlon course in the PTS4 category, finishing ahead of France’s Mathieu Rella and New Zealand’s Kurt Peterson.

Fiona Southorn of New Zealand claimed the PTS5 women’s title in the Para Duathlon, crossing the line in 1:14:43.

Racing continues on Tuesday with the Cross Triathlon taking the action off-road.

Originally published as Belinda Murray claims top honours at World Triathlon Multisport Championships