The Gold Coast T100 Triathlon delivered a big weekend for the sport down under, with more than 5,000 amateur athletes taking part across 21-22 March – as well as a few special guests.
Following a masterclass from the professional T100 women off Surfers Paradise on Saturday, led by American superstar Taylor Knibb, who claimed her sixth T100 victory, and an impressive second place for British T100 debutant Jessica Fullagar, the mass participation events took centre stage on day 2.
Over 1,700 triathletes ranging in ages from 18 to 70 years contested the gruelling T100 event consisting of a 2km swim, 80km cycle and 18km run.
The men’s and women’s Open Age Group titles were exciting finishes, decided in the closing stages of the run leg. Brisbane’s Andrew Nash timed his first T100 race perfectly. He made his winning move inside the final two kilometres to win in 3:34.05. Matt Jackson (3:34.45) from Sydney was second with Glenn Strutt (3:36.00), an osteopath from Brisbane third.
Brisbane physiotherapist Prudie White was the first female across the T100 finish to get under the coveted four-hour mark (3:58.42). The 25-year-old made her move with six kilometres to race, passing Chelsea Seymour (4:01.38). British racer Claire Rendall was comfortably third (4:03.54).
Athletes who finished in the Top 10 for their Age-Group won the right to participate in the T100 Age-Group World Championships, that will take place at the Qatar T100 Triathlon World Championship Finals that will take place on 11-12 December, 2026.
Olympic Athletes From Other Sports Tackle T100
Olympians Harry Gardside and Britt Cox both went out of their comfort zones of boxing and freestyle skiing respectively to challenge themselves.
Garside went around in 4:10:58 on his T100 debut, saying: “It was good to really push myself towards the back end of that run. It gives me some more things to work on, to make sure I break the four hours next year. That’s the focus now.”
Australian Freestyle skier Britt Cox commented: “That was so fun. I am absolutely wrecked but what a beautiful place – this event was so well run. Having so many spectators out there today, really got me over the line.”
The great atmosphere on course, across both days of racing, was a real highlight for all athletes and the Gold Coast 10km run on Sunday morning was no exception. It event managed to attract Australian reigning World Triathlon Championship Series (WTCS) champion Matt Hauser, who ran around with his girlfriend Georgia Humphreys as well as a mystery ‘pacer’, who turned out to be British Olympic triathlon champion Alex Yee.
Hauser had teased on social media in the week building up to the event that he would get Yee to pace him. Yee was on the Gold Coast doing an elite training camp with British Triathlon. But it was still a surprise to see the winner from the Paris 2024 Olympics strolling over the finish line.
Speaking to local media who spotted him, Yee said: “It was fun. I just came to pace some friends so it was nice to get involved with a good Gold Coast event and feel the energy. It’s nice to get involved with all kinds of people, especially with running events, you get all kinds of ages and everything…what a privilege.”
“Just for one more week and then I’m home. So nice to be down on the Gold Coast for a couple of weeks, but I’ve got to go back to reality and back to the UK.”
The Gold Coast T100 Triathlon will return in 2027 on 20-21 March. To guarantee your spot, visit: https://in.registrations.protriathletes.org/gold-coast-t100-2027?currentPage=select-competition