Natalie van Coevorden’s silver lining ahead of Tokyo Olympic triathlon
As one athlete made history, a Macarthur triathlete just quietly built on her form ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.
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She finished second in Australia’s biggest triathlon but there was a silver lining for triathlete Natalie van Coevorden in the Noosa on the weekend.
Coevorden finished behind Tokyo Olympic hopeful Ash Gentle who claimed a record seventh win in the annual race on the Sunshine Coast.
While Gentle won convincingly, van Coevorden was forced to work for her second place with ironwoman gun Sarah Crowley hot on her heels.
But the Macarthur triathlete was happy with the result and the experience.
“Every race leading into the Olympics is very important to us as a confidence booster but also to show that we are in good form leading into next year,’’ said van Coevorden, bidding to be one of three Australian women on the startline of the Tokyo Olympic triathlon next year.
“The swim was a great opportunity for me to get a gap on the field but that meant I was by myself on the bike which is not ideal with a big group chasing.
“But I worked hard. I knew the run was going to be pretty tough and Sarah Crowley really gave it to me the whole way.
“I was thinking there was going to be a repeat of last year’s sprint finish, so I knew I had to go on the bridge.
“I didn’t want anything decided in the last 50 metres. I am really happy to get second here again.’’
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Gentle covered the swim, bike, run course in 1hr 57min 53 sec with van Coevorden second in 1:58:49. Crowley was third in 1:59:00.
Tasmanian Jake Birtwhistle won the men’s race from Henri Schoeman with defending champion and Newcastle triathlete Aaron Royle third.