Daniel Plews and Trudy Fawcett top field at Sprint Duathlon

Story by Les Tan/Red Sports. Photos by Lai Jun Wei/Red Sports and Marvin Tang.

Upper Seletar Reservoir Park, Sunday, March 15, 2009 – Daniel Plews blazed home in 45 minutes 38 seconds to beat nearest challenger David Edwards by over two minutes in the Singapore Sprint Series Sprint Duathlon. Edwards finished in 48:18 while Wille Loo was just behind in 48:32.

Halligan Quin, who won the men’s category in the Sprint Aquathlon, finished 13th overall in 51:01.

In the women’s category, Trudy Fawcett followed up her win in the Sprint Aquathlon with a convincing 52:30 first-place finish in the Sprint Duathlon. Her nearest challenger was Harriette Purchas in 56:33 while Choo Ling Er was third in 56:37.

“I really enjoy these short races,” said Daniel. “Very painful – but only for a short period of time. It’s an awesome venue for a duathlon.”

The 3km run route took participants past the picturesque Upper Seletar Reservoir and the 15km bike route was along Mandai Road with its majestic canopy of mature trees. The bike route this year was also expanded to give bikers more room for overtaking.

“I really enjoyed it,” said the ever-bubbly Trudy. “I was a bit nervous that the bike route would be dangerous but it was really well done!”

Trudy also finished first at the recent Singapore Biathlon and in her estimation, not fast. “I’m not a sprinter but it was only 3km!”

Trudy ran her second 3km in 10:59, 10 seconds faster than her first 3km. Her overall time also placed her 22nd overall in the field.

The Sprint Duathlon is the second of three races making up the Singapore Sprint Series with participants raking up points for each race. An overall series champion will be declared after the Sprint Triathlon on April 19, 2009.

“I signed up for the series,” said Wille Loo, 26. “I always enjoy the bike course and I’m also trying to go for the overall win.” © Red Sports

More pictures in the gallery.

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