Top finish for Kiwis at Coolangatta Gold
Monday 20 October 2008, 6:55AM
By Surf Life Saving New Zealand
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New Zealand surf lifesavers came away with three top-15 finishes at the iconic Coolangatta Gold event in Queensland today.
The best New Zealand performance was from Mike Janes, from Gisborne's Midway club, who nabbed 11th spot just over 14mins back from winner Caine Eckstein in the grueling 46.5km men's race.
The 21-year-old Janes finished the marathon event in 4hours 28minutes and 17seconds, just ahead of current New Zealand ironman champion Daniel Moodie (Westshore) who finished in 14th.
Janes' younger brother Dan was a further five minutes adrift in 18th, while Taranaki's Daniel Nelson came home in 32nd.
Australian-based Jess Parr (Muriwai) was a valiant 12th in the 30.5km women's race, won by Australian Hayley Bateup for a record third time.
Parr, the reigning New Zealand surf race and run-swim-run champion, finished in 3hours 45minutes and 13seconds, while the other Kiwis in the women's race, Gisborne's Madison Boon (Midway) and Queensland-based former Mount Maunganui athlete Alice Towgood, finished 20th and 24th respectively.
Bateup added to previous victories in 2005 and 2006 and her third-placing last year, while Eckstein also won the Coolangatta Gold title in 2005, and the 22-year-old's efforts today headed home Mooloolaba's Tim Peach and Cronulla's Nathan Smith.
Veteran ironman Dean Mercer, in his sixth attempt at the marathon race, finished fourth.
Results:
(Australian unless stated):
Men: Caine Eckstein 4hrs 14mins 15secs 1, Tim Peach 4:16:44 2, Nathan Smith 4:17:18 3, Dean Mercer 4:20:10 4, Luke Nisbet 4:21:41 5, Steve Pullen 4:23:57 6, Matt Poole 4:24:32 7, Hayden Smith 4:25:00 8, Kyle Garrett 4:26:08 9, Cory Hill 4:26:33 10, MIKE JANES (NZ) 4:28:17 11, Josh Blair 4:29:20 12, Brendon Sarson 4:30:25 13, DANIEL MOODIE 4:31:05 14, Jack Hansen 4:32:00 15.
Also: DANIEL JANES 4:36:16 18, Daniel Nelson 4:52:21 32.
Women: Hayley Bateup 3:18:45 1, Courtney Hancock 3:25:56 2, Alyce Bennett 3:26:58 3, Kirsty Holmes 3:27:13 4, Flora Manciet 3:29:50 5, Gemma Newbiggin 3:32:09 6, Nadi Canning 3:32:30 7, Kristen Askew 3:38:17 8, Kristyl Smith 3:39:15 9, Sarah Colby 3:39:43 10, Casey Leo-litzow 3:42:14 11, JESS PARR (NZ) 3:45:13 12, Rebeeca Thomson 3:46:52 13, Crystal Maruna 3:47:16 14, Rachel Duczynski 3:47:57 15.
Also: MADISON BOON (NZ) 3:51:42 20, ALLIE TOWGOOD (NZ) 3:55:34 24.