The Scootathlon had over 30 children competing their scoot, bike and
run following a lead Frog Bike around Dorney Lake.
The British Triathlon Youth and Junior Relay Qualifier
race had some of the UK’s best 15-17 year old boys and girls all racing with
the same aim: to qualify for the European Youth Relays. The first race was the
boys, resulting in Miles Burton first with a time of 30 minutes and 35
seconds who just piped Kieran Lindars and Jimmy Kershaw into second and third.
Then it was time for my race, it was the first triathlon
of the British Super Sprint Youth Series this year which is always exciting as
nobody knows each others form. It is the most important races of this years
calendar as it’s the qualifier for the European Relays in Holland which for my
age is the only international event you can do.
Going in to the race I knew there were around 10 girls on the day that
could be in with a chance of qualifying but only 3 get to race and 1 reserve.
The race was a 400m square swim then out onto a 10km bike which was 2 laps of a
5km flat circuit. Finally to finish an
out and back 2.5km runs.
In the swim I had a good start as I quickly got some
clear water to get my rhythm going when we came to the 1st
buoy of 3 it all got a bit rough. I exited the water in 8th
place in a time of 5.26 which isn’t one of my finest times but I was up in the
top field. Transition went to plan not
as fast as I wanted but with an excellent hop on the bike I was in 3rd
and in the lead group for the bike.
It was cycling time the bike course was made up of two
laps of a flat circuit. At first it was hard to get the group to work together
but with a few words they started to work with me. After 3/4 of the lap I was
at the front of the group going through a small chicane on the circuit, I
didn’t realise that there had been a crash in our group. Two girls were off and
out the race. Now all that was left was me and two other girls, we worked well
together but a group of 6 caught us with half a lap to go. This was soon
followed by another crash of two more girls who were then out the race, this
left 5 of us. I lead into transition and fortunately with a quick transition I
was out with just one other girl.
The run went off fast and I tried to keep the pace up
but couldn’t hold the leader and a 15m gap developed that never got smaller or
bigger for the whole run. I was running strong but I had an idea that the
runner behind was closing down on me. Bronwen Owen, a national runner was catching me with every
stride. With only 400m of the run left I fought hard to hold my position but as
I was passed I picked up my pace to hold onto Bronwen’s tail. I finally finished the race in third position.
The winning girl was Grace Cook in a time of 34 mins 28 seconds
with Bronwen Owen coming
second and myself, Megan McDonald finishing third.
This means European Qualification allowing me to race in
Holland on the 27th June for Great Britain YAY!!!!!
Next race is Blenheim palace my favourite course.
Megan McDonald
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