Olivier, Connie break records

Luxembourgian Olivier Godart and Australian Connie Bourverot won the men’s and women’s Olympic categories of the second Tri Yas triathlon at the Yas Marina Circuit.

By Kt Report

  • Follow us on
  • google-news
  • whatsapp
  • telegram

Published: Sun 15 Apr 2012, 4:02 PM

Last updated: Tue 7 Apr 2015, 1:47 PM

Over 900 UAE, regional and international athletes battled to be the best in Friday’s event, a media release said. With increased numbers and new twilight timing, spectators were treated to a number of dramatic finishes and two new Tri Yas records set by both men’s and women’s Olympic category winners.

Improving on his fourth place showing at the 2011 Tri Yas by over 12 minutes, Godart, set a new Tri Yas record, beating last year’s best time of 1:59:04 by Jasper Blake with an impressive time of 1:57:41.

When asked how he felt crossing the finish line, a modest Godart, said: “It’s hard to describe, I was just happy. When I’m racing, I never think too much about anything. I just focus on what I have to do.”

Also setting a new Tri Yas record is women’s Olympic category winner Connie Bourverot, who like Godart improved on her first place finish at the 2011 Tri Yas by over 3 minutes to take first place honours with a 2012 time of 2:21:38. Bourverot, who faced stiff competition in this year’s race from Briton Christine Rae, came out on top, beating Rae’s time of 2:21:39 by only one second.

“Tri Yas 2012 has surpassed all expectations,” said Nick McElwee, sales and marketing director, Yas Marina Circuit.

“Tri Yas celebrates community, camaraderie and healthy competition and we congratulate everyone who participated in Tri Yas 2012 especially our two new Tri Yas record holders Olivier and Connie.” Close behind Godart in the men’s Olympic category was Olympic hopeful Egyptian Omar Nour, who came in second with a time of 1:59:58. Third place honours in the men’s Olympic category went to German Stefan Spies with a time of 2:07:04, while third place in the women’s Olympic category went to Australian Lynette Warn with a time of 2:24:09. “I came to win but today it wasn’t to be. This is one of the best Tri courses and the atmosphere was fantastic. I’ll be back and looking to push myself even harder next year,” said Nour.

In the sprint categories, men’s top honours went to Briton Ian Le Pelly with a time of 1:06:15 while achieved Deirdre Casey of Ireland a time of 1:11:32 to come in first in the women’s sprint category.

Second place sprinters included Edward Hawkins (1:07:37) of the UK and Canadian Kimberly Leiske (1:18:51) while third place went to Britons Matt Warnock (1:08:28) and Abbe Le Pelley (1:21:58).

sports@khaleejtimes.com


More news from