Local triathlete Nick Thompson has etched his name in the history books by breaking the course record on his way to a third consecutive Busselton 100 victory and the Australian long distance title at Sunday's 25th edition of the Busselton Festival of Triathlon.
Thompson surged past former winner and eventual runner-up Matt Burton during the final run leg to finish in three hours, 14 minutes and 26 seconds. The performance shattered the previous course record and cemented Thompson's status as one of the event's most dominant competitors.
After emerging fourth from the water in perfect conditions for the 2km swim, Thompson moved into the lead during the opening 10km of the 80km bike leg. However, Burton, a former champion, took control on his favoured cycling leg and held a 40-second advantage over Thompson entering the 18km run.
But Thompson's pace proved too quick as he surged into the lead within the opening 3km of the run, a lead he would not relinquish. “I know there have been a few names such as Pete Jacobs and Felicity Sheedy-Ryan who have won four long course state champs in Busselton, so it was nice to have the chance to edge one step closer. Three on the trot I couldn’t be more pleased,” Thompson said.
Reflecting on the race, Thompson noted: “The swim was good, pretty flat. Small bits and pieces of swell close to the shore but it was fast. It was quite a cold morning, so it didn’t feel super quick through the quick and it was a bit of a slog in parts. Not as quick as previous years and really had to force the body to keep on top of the power and speed. With the run I thought I would just go out and try and bank some time before the ironman legs caught up with me.”
Women's race: Jasmine Brown takes victory
In the women's Busselton 100, WA's Jasmine Brown claimed the national title, winning in 3 hours, 41 minutes and 49 seconds. After emerging from the water in third position, Brown rode her way into the lead within the first 10km of the cycle leg and was never passed from that point onward.
It was the first time the National championships had been held in Western Australia since 1997, adding extra significance to Brown's victory.
Milestone participants and event highlights
Thompson and Brown were among 3000 participants taking part in the event, which included more than 1300 debutants. The festival also celebrated five athletes who have completed every edition of the Busselton Festival of Triathlon since its inception 25 years ago: Tim Howley, Warren Milward, Paul Kelly, Graeme Atwell, and Craig Kimpton. These five riders have now further written their names into the history books as the only individuals to achieve this remarkable feat.
In addition to the Busselton 100, the festival also featured the Busselton 50, 25, and 5 events, as well as Aquabike and Duathlon competitions, offering a range of options for triathletes of all abilities.
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