DUATHLON: Second World Championship gold for Claire Steels
Steels won the 30-34 Female AG race with a time of 02:19:06.
It was the personal trainer’s second visit to the world championships after winning gold on her debut last season having taken up the sport the same year.
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Hide AdThis year was not so straight forward. Battling the Spanish heat Steels was sick during the first run but still completed it in 41:03.
The race was Steels first outing for Great Britain at the further ‘standard distance’ rather than ‘sprint.’
She competed the cycling segment in 1:09:31, before finishing the second run in 24:26 to give her victory by 1:47 over home athlete Tenreiro Alvarez Beatriz in her age group.
Steels wrote on Instagram: “Well that was harder than I thought it was going to be! Hottest race ever and a race of firsts too!
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Hide Ad“First race as 30-34, first standard distance for GB, First time I’ve been sick on the first run. First time I have a ‘toilet break’ in a race, but second time I’ve come away with the gold. Delighted but exhausted now.”
South African triathlete Richard Murray and British star Emma Pallant claimed victory in the elite races.