Cronulla triathlete Craig Alexander may have won the 2008, 2009 and 2011 Ironman triathlon world titles – he also won the Ironman World Championship in 2006 and 2011 – but until today he had not won the 000 Emergency Services Aquathlon held in the memory of Sean Maroney.
30 years since its Cronulla inception and first won by the late Sutherland Shire lifeguard Mark Pringle, the annual event in memory of Maroney, twin brother of swimmer Susie, was held in pristine conditions at the Brighton Baths Athletic complex on Wednesday.
The new race format was a 700-metre swim, 1.5-kilometre run, 700m swim and a 3km run. Athletes from all the emergency services and family members competed in memory of their friend Maroney, at the same time raising necessary funds for the Mcgrath Foundation.
Starting by Susie Maroney in perfect conditions, the small field was quick to establish itself with Chris Gruehinger (police) leading the swim ahead of Newcastle fireman Boyd Connrick and world triathlon champion Alexander (nurses) in a dead heat with Sean’s brother Michael.
During the first run leg Alexander opened a considerable lead but this was quickly erased during the second swim leg where Connrick lead back up the beach.
Alexander immediately took control out of transition in the final run leg and finished in a new course record of 33 minutes, 36 seconds. In second place was Connrick 36.16 and third Gruenhinger 37.38.
The women’s race was also very tight with Paula Little (49.36) swapping lead positions during the race but breaking away in the final run leg to out-sprint her fellow fire brigade competitor Jen MacDonald (50.06) and Tiffany O'Neill (police) in third.
Eleven-year-old Cooper Daley not only had a late start for school but also finished in eighth position overall, beating home many athletes three times his age.
The teams division was won by Rick Parkes and Glenn Gorick while the overall points score was won by the fire brigade. Jen Macdonald was the winner of the donated mountain bike.
Race director Peter Daley from the Brighton Baths Athletics Club was ecstatic to have such amazing athletes compete in this annual event to determine which emergency service was the fittest while donating all money to the McGrath Foundation.
