Muscat 88th in Haikou Half Ironman

Former mountain bike champion Ishmael Muscat recently ventured into new territory in sport by taking part in his first Half Ironman triathlon in China. This triathlon was the first of its kind to be held in the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games host country.

The race was held in the southern city of Haikou in very hot conditions with temperatures reaching 36°C.

Around 800 athletes, from 39 different countries, converged on Haikou for the Half Ironman. The competition also doubled up as a qualifying event for the Half Ironman World Championships to be held later this year.

For Muscat, the event in China was only his second triathlon in 18 months.

He was 216th after the 1.9-kilometre swim and moved up to the 35th position by the end of the 90-kilometre bike segment.

Muscat started the final half marathon run after approximately three-and-a-half-hours of swimming and cycling.

Muscat is also a relative newcomer to road running, having figured in the Shanghai half marathon last November.

Nevertheless, he braved the difficult conditions and finished in the 88th position with an overall time of 6:25.47.