LD Duathlon World Champions

by World Triathlon Admin on 12 Aug, 2008 12:00

Joerie VanSteelant of Belgium and Catriona Morrison of Great Britain have successfully defended their titles at the 2008 ITU Long Distance Duathlon World Champions.  The two duathlon stars played to their strengths to pull away from the competition in decisive wins in both the mens and womens competitions of the run-bike-run event.  The official distances of the 2008 Geel ITU Long Distance Duathlon World Championships are an 18-kilometre run, 74-kilometre bike and 9-kilometre run.

Morrison was the heavy favourite coming into the competition as last years champion and two-time duathlon world championship medalist and did not disappoint, breaking the tape first in a time of 3 hours 44 minutes and 23 seconds.  In second place was Mariska Kramer-Postma of the Netherlands two minutes and 23 seconds back.  Germanys Urlike Shwalbe claimed the bronze in her first long distance duathlon world championships a further one minute and 35 seconds back. 

Canadas Cheryl Murphy and Great Britains Michelle Lee moved to the front of the opening 18-kilometre run putting almost a minute on Morrison and the chasers by first transition.  Out on the 4-lap bike course through the heart of the city their lead would not last long as Morrison and Kramer-Postma quickly gobbled up the two leaders and continued on increasing their lead to over two minutes by the end of the technical and fast course.  From there Morrison pulled her ace out, pulling away from Kramer-Postma on the final 9-kilometre run leg with the days fastest split to capture her third ITU world championship title and sixth world championship medal.  Kramer-Postma managed to hold off a charging Shwalbe for the silver medal.

In the mens event, reigning world champion VanSteelant gave the local crowds something to cheer about as he rode away from the competition for his third long distance duathlon medal in as many years.  Finishing second was another Belgian, Bart Aernouts, four minutes and five seconds back.  Rounding out the podium was Lino Barruncho of Portugal in third, another two minutes and 18 seconds down.

The day belonged to VanSteelant as he led from tape to tape clocking the fastest opening run split and bike spilt by over five minutes leaving him able to soak up the cheers of thousands of Belgian supporters as he crossed the finish line.  VanSteelant managed a torrid pace of almost 43km/hr over the 74-kilometre bike course to leave no doubt that he is currently the man to beat in the world of duathlon.  Aernouts was the next to cross the line for a silver medal in his debut long distance duathlon event. A nice addition to his two silvers from the 2007 and 2006 duathlon world championships.  Despite posting the second fastest final run split of the day, Barruncho was unable to make up the gap to the leaders and finished third.

Hundreds of age groupers also competed in the world championships from more then 20 countries.  Geel, Belgium played host to the MultiSport championship event for the first time after successfully hosting previous duathlon world championships in 2004 and multiple duathlon world series events.

2008 Geel ITU Long Distance Duathlon World Championships Geel, Belgium
Official Results Elite Wom
18km run, 74km bike, 9km run
Gold Catriona Morrison (GBR) 3:44:23
Silver Mariska Kramer-Postma (NED)  3:46:46
Bronze Urlike Shwalbe (GER) 3:48:21
4 Heleen Bij De Vaate (NED) 3:49:35
5 Michelle Lee (GBR) 3:51:29
6 Cheryl Murphy (CAN) 3:51:53
7 Miek Vyncke (BEL) 3:53:14
8 Ana Casares (ESP) 3:55:50
9 Susanne Svendsen (DEN) 3:56:40
10 Isabelle Ferrer (FRA) 3:57:25
For full results click here.


Official Results Elite Men
18km run, 74km bike, 9km run
Gold   Joerie Vansteelant (BEL)  3:15:05
Silver Bart Aernouts (BEL)3:19:10
Bronze Lino Barruncho (POR)3:21:28
4 Anthony Le Duey (FRA)3:22:57
5 Justin Hurd (USA)3:23:21
6 Kris Coddens (BEL) 3:23:34
7 Pascal Schuler (FRA)3:24:00
8 Koen Maris (BEL)3:24:30
9 Oliver Mott (GBR)3:24:43
10 Wim Nieuwkerk (NED) 3:25:24
For full results click here.

Click here for full Age Group results.

Click here for full gallery.

Related Event: 2008 Geel ITU Long Distance Duathlon World Championships
10 Aug, 2008 • event pageall results
Results: Elite Women
1. Catriona Morrison GBR 03:44:23
2. Mariska Kramer-Postma NED 03:46:46
3. Ulrike Schwalbe GER 03:48:21
4. Heleen Bij De Vaate NED 03:49:35
5. Michelle Lee GBR 03:51:29
Results: Elite Men
1. Joerie Vansteelant BEL 03:15:05
2. Bart Aernouts BEL 03:19:10
3. Lino Barruncho POR 03:21:28
4. Anthony Le Duey FRA 03:22:57
5. Justin Hurd USA 03:23:21
Results: 75-79 Male AG
1. Alfred König GER 05:57:12
2. Leon D'Erbee BEL 06:19:27
Results: 70-74 Male AG
1. Theo Herberger GER 04:39:44
2. Rolf Oppermann GER 04:50:54
3. Wolfgang Funk GER 04:54:39
4. Josef Osterkamp GER 04:56:13
5. Peter Norman GBR 05:14:10
Results: 65-69 Male AG
1. Dirk Benschop NED 04:26:10
2. Jacques Roy FRA 04:35:30
3. Horst Wittnebel GER 04:44:19
4. Klaus Kanter GER 05:05:57
5. Rod Mackinlay USA 05:39:57
Results: 60-64 Male AG
1. Mick Anglim GBR 04:09:54
2. Helke Wannewitz GER 04:14:19
3. Diethard Gansow GER 04:20:51
4. Roberto Felaco BEL 04:23:25
5. Friedhelm Würtz GER 04:24:18
Results: 60-64 Female AG
1. Elisabeth Onisseit GER 05:24:13
2. Barbara Kostner USA 06:16:30
Results: 55-59 Male AG
1. Norbert Paul GER 03:57:30
2. Miroslav Krsek CZE 04:02:31
3. Paul Ten Hag NED 04:03:26
4. Paul Vos NED 04:06:42
5. Rene Van Der Velden BEL 04:08:26
Results: 55-59 Female AG
1. Rosalinde Bakker Rens NED 04:43:34
2. Brenda Fortune NZL 04:45:28
3. Francoise Hantke FRA 04:50:17
4. Hilary Walker GBR 05:00:06
DSQ. Nancy Cole CAN DSQ
Results: 50-54 Male AG
1. William Vyncke BEL 03:49:55
2. Jack Niessen NED 03:52:33
3. Gerold Müller GER 03:53:17
4. Ralf Laermann GER 03:54:52
5. Gerd Schander GER 03:58:26
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