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Over 900 UAE, regional and international athletes battled to be the best in yesterday’s second annual Tri Yas triathlon at Yas Marina Circuit. 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, Luxembourgian Olivier Godart and Australian Connie Bourverot.
Improving on his fourth place showing at the 2011 Tri Yas by over 12 minutes, Mr. 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 Mr. 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 Mr. 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: Omar Nour who came second in the men’s Olympic category.
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).
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