After all the build up and preparation Super League Triathlon (SLT) got under way yesterday with the athletes taking on the Swim Individual Time Trial.
This flat out solo effort will set the starting order for tomorrow’s Equalizer so every second counted as the athletes left it all out on the water.
The female field were up first – set off in reverse ranking order. The first four women to take to the course were Taylor Spivey (USA), Yuko Takahashi (Japan), Sarah Alexander (USA) and Klaudia Sebok (Hungary).
Spivey was first out of the water setting a blistering time of 07:04 with Yuko just behind at 07:10 (+00:06).
The rest of the female field came and went but no one came close to dislodging Spivey until Katie Zaferes (USA) took to the water and looked to be a challenger to the first two ladies back. Katie came in at 07:11 (+00:07) taking third.
Having competed in Jersey 2017 Spivey had to miss the opening race of this series so was pleased to have made a statement in Malta.
“I was nervous going first – I like to chase and not be chased. Happy to come away with the win, I took the smartest lines on the course and got a chance to show what I was capable of.”
Yuko is a newcomer to SLT and enjoyed the experience “It was a very nice course – I just went flat out.”
Pre race Swim Jersey holder Emma Jeffcoat (AUS) finished in seventh with a time of 07:16 (+00:12).
“It was a bit like being back in the ocean at home but I’d love some waves next time Macca! In reality if you’re more than 90 seconds down then you’re out so some of the back end better watch out.”
As soon as the women were finished the men took to the course – exactly the same format and with equal desire to take the lead going into the rest of the weekend.
Jersey’s Ollie Turner was the first male athlete into the water and held off those behind him to take a fleeting lead setting 07:24.
Soon to be beaten into second by Luke Schofield (Australia) who set 07:20 but it’s wasn’t until later in the running order that the big guns got to fire.
South Africa’s Henri Schoeman, the pre race favourite, hit the water hard and kept the pace up throughout. He set an astounding 06:31 with Vincent Luis (France) following just behind at 06:42 (+00:11). Germany’s Jonas Schomburg rounded off the podium with a time of 06:46 (+00:15).
Schoeman had looked to take advantage of his strength in the swim to get a march on his rivals.
“I felt good – I mean I was burning quite a bit after 100m. My arms are pretty tight but I’m really happy I won it. Gives me a good advantage into Stage 2.”
Luis was predictably laid back about his time loss “it was as hard as I expected but it’s only the first day eh.”
Jonny Brownlee came in looking to keep as close to Henri and Vincent as he possibly could but only managed sixth on the day with a time of 06:54 (+00:23).
“It was tough on your own out there, so I went as hard as I could. I wasn’t sure how to pace it but I enjoyed it, it was nice to do a swim where you’re not fighting people,” he said.
South Africa’s Richard Murray trailed home in 15th setting a time of 07:21 (+00:50), time he’ll have to make up over the course of the coming weekend. “I think that was pretty much right - I felt good and did the best I could. We’ll see how it goes tomorrow. Kind of happy with the swim.”
The athletes will be taking as much recovery as they can get going into the evening as the Eliminator kicks off today – with the pontoon placings decided by the Slot Draw it’ll be a fight for position going into the first swim then a fight for survival as the racing intensifies.