Victorious Vickery toasts treble triumph
JULIET Vickery prepared for her crusade at the World Duathlon Championships by claiming her third successive British Triathlon Championship in Bedford on Sunday.
The 47-year-old, from Reach, took first place in the 45-49 age group category after completing the 1.5k swim, 40k bike ride and 10k run in a time of 2.22.40 - 10 minutes ahead of runner-up Karen Connor.
After a slower than normal swim, the Cambridge Triathlon club member found herself chasing Connor as the competitors headed on to the bike ride.
Vickery took over the lead from Connor during the bike ride, before pulling clear of her rival with a strong performance in the concluding 10k run.
Victory for Vickery comes just weeks after securing first place in her age category in the Grays Sprint Triathlon, Essex, to put her within touching distance of a second successive Eastern Region Triathlon Series title.
Vickery said: "It was only a last minute decision that I took part in this so I am really pleased with the win.
"I was a bit disappointed with my swim, but was really surprised with my run as I have been struggling a bit with a leg injury this season."
The reigning East Region Triathlon Series champion will now switch all her focus towards the World Duathlon Championships which are set to take place in Edinburgh next month.
Vickery will be hoping she can go one place better in the championships, which she last took part in, in Belgium six years ago, when denied a gold in her age group by just four seconds.
"I have had a look around the course and it looks tough. Hopefully the work I have been putting in at the weekly time trials around Newmarket will pay off on the day," added Vickery.
Also using the Bedford based event as a warm up ahead of their individual cracks at the World Triathlon Championships, in Budapest, Hungary, were Newmarket based triathletes David and Gabe Lowrie.
Twenty year old Gabe put in a solid performance completing the Olympic distance event in 2.10.51, giving him an 11th place finish in the 20-24 age group, while 59-year-old David came home seventh in the 55-59 age group after finishing in a total time of 2.36.48.
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Weather for Newmarket
Thursday 09 February 2012
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