TRIATHLON: Brilliant Baker serves up treat (From Oxford Mail)

TRIATHLON: Brilliant Baker serves up treat

7:18pm Friday 10th July 2009 in

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LUKE Baker was Oxford Tri’s leading finisher at Ironman Austria in Klagenfurt after breaking the 11-hour barrier.

Baker triumphed in his annual battle with clubmate Nick Hales, while Steven Slay and Emma Carter also completed the 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile run course.

Hales had built up a 20-minute lead over Baker by the end of the bike section, but had no answer to his rival’s superb marathon time of 3hrs 40mins.

An asthma attack after 30km of the run looked as if might force Hales to pull out, but he soldiered on for a 4.47 split and an overall time of 11.43.15.

Baker crossed the line in 10.55.06, while Slay clocked a personal best 13.46.30, despite racing Ironman Lanzarotte in May.

Carter was delighted to record 16.28.14 over her debut at the distance.

She said: “I did it because it was there.

“A lot of people look at their lives and settle and I wanted to prove I could do something extraordinary.

“I wanted to make my kids proud of me and I wanted to do something unusual for a middle aged mum!

“Having hundreds of people cheering you on really helps spur you forward.”

Slay, who has only been doing triathlon for two years, said: “I couldn’t swim three years ago. To now be taking part in ironman competitions is awesome.”

• FIFTY-six athletes took part in the second meeting of the Vale Tridents Junior Tri-athlon Club, with Charles Harrison (White Horse Harriers) and Rebecca James (Vale Tridents) victorious.