Stroke And Stride Race Report
RACE REPORT
It would be being charitable and also highly accurate to describe the spring weather in Auckland as changeable. The
forecast for Race #2 in the 2XU Stroke & Stride Series was extreme with three figure wind speeds, thunder storms and downpours all lining up to unleash on those
considering a day at the beach. In the preceding hours we did indeed get hefty doses of the undesirable stuff however
by race time conditions could not have been better.
The swim was over 750 metres of placid water with the earlier rollicking seas now settled completely. This calm sea
state encouraged all the men’s field to move pretty much as one around the buoys and it was only on the return to the
shore that a trio of guys pulled clear. They were Brent Foster going 8 minutes 34 seconds, Dylan McNeice 8minutes 37
seconds and Sam Franklin 8 minutes 51 seconds. What came next in a time of 9 minutes 15 seconds was more like a swarm
than a pack as umpteen swimmers hit the beach and hurdled towards the transition removing goggles and shedding wetsuits
on the fly; we’ll have to assume all the remaining contenders were mixed in with this lot.
The women’s field followed the men 10 minutes later and this time one swimmer did go clear and gain a substantial lead.
Teresa Adam’s sizzling 9 minute 20 second swim gave her 40 seconds advantage over fine swimmers including Simone
Ackermann, Rebecca Clarke and Samantha Warriner now trailing in her wake.
The 4 kilometre run took the action out as far as St Heliers Bay before returning to the finish on the soft sands of
Mission Bay. There may have been a slight tailwind to be enjoyed at times on the outward journey. Dylan McNeice and
Brent Foster were hard charging at the front of the field doing their utmost to deal to each other and at the same time
working together to prevent any of the fleet footed chasers catching them. By the time they rounded the point and came
back into view, two had become three as the flying Ryan Sissons had once again accelerated up to the lead on the run
leg. Positioning for the final drive to the finish line would be critical as there was 100 metres of soft sand to be
negotiated before the line was crossed. An enthralling three way sprint finish ensued with Ryan Sissons getting clear
and holding his form to the line to claim his second win for the season, Brent Foster’s vast experience got himself into
second just ahead of the hard working Dylan McNeice. The strong running Liam Scopes secured fourth spot ahead of ahead
of a delighted Michael Poole in his first race of the summer.
The swim was all she wrote for Teresa Adam as she left it to Samantha Warriner, Simone Ackermann and Carmel Hanly to
take charge out on the run course. Samantha Warriner grabbed an early lead and Carmel Hanly got in front of Simone
Ackermann but as they closed on the beach it was still anyone’s race with no more than a couple of metres of separation.
All three athletes have stellar records at Stroke & Stride with numerous wins and Series Championships over the years. On this occasion it was to be Samantha Warriner who
claimed her 23rd Stroke & Stride victory with one of her closest finishes in years. Simone Ackermann counterpunched and got herself into second
and the winner from Race #1 Carmel Hanly was this time left in third. Behind this high quality podium came the juniors
with Maddie Dillon holding out Stroke & Stride debutant Emily Pearce.
Grand Prix points are very close for the women with just one point the difference between Carmel Hanly and Simone
Ackermann. Looking slightly ominous for the guys however with defending Series Champ Ryan Sissons already 8 points
clear but stay tuned as we still have six more races to be swum and run.
The next event is on Wednesday, December 2nd and full results, points and more is on the official website at swimrun.org
RESULTS
Male
1 Ryan Sissons 22m 29s
2 Brent Foster 22m 31s
3 Dylan McNeice 22m 34s
4 Liam Scopes 22m 53s
5 Michael Poole 23m 10s
6 Sam Morreau 23m 56s
7 Sam Franklin AUS 24m 08s
8 Bruce Hunter 24m 33s
9 Sam Ward 24m 46s
10 Jacob Ackermann GER 25m 03s
Female
1 Samantha Warriner 24m 55s
2 Simone Ackermann 24m 56s
3 Carmel Hanly 24m 59s
4 Maddie Dillon 26m 58s
5 Emily Pearce 27m 21s
6 Megan Roper 27m 56s
7 Anna Ross 28m 02s
8 Rebecca Clarke 28m 06s
9 Lizzie Orchard 28m 12s
10 Georgia Lloyd 28m 25s
GRAND PRIX POINTS
Female
1 Carmel Hanly 35
2 Simone Ackermann 34
3 Maddie Dillon 26
4 Samantha Warriner 20
5 Anna Ross 19
6T Teresa Adam 15
6T Megan Roper 15
8 Georgia Lloyd 14
9T Belinda Harper 11
9T Emily Pearce 11
Male
1 Ryan Sissons 40
2 Brent Foster 32
3 Liam Scopes 30
4 Sam Franklin AUS 22
5 Sam Morreau 21
6 Bruce Hunter 17
7 Dylan McNeice 15
8 Sam Ward 13
9T Alexi Petrie 11
9T Michael Poole 11
ends