Media Release by USM Events for the race results:
O’Brien claims victory over reigning champion
Gorman reclaims title
Gold Coast’s George O’Brien scored a surprise win over swim king Ky Hurst at the Eyeline 1000 Noosa Ocean Swim today, while Melissa Gorman re-claimed her title in the famous annual event.
The race, which regularly attracts the biggest names in the sport, will be one to remember for George, who rated the win as one of the best in his career to date.
“I have never beat Ky in a race like this so it’s a good feeling,” O’Brien said.
O’Brien established a clear lead early in the race, leading the tight male pack at the half way mark ahead of Ridge & Codie Grimsey. He continued to extend his lead in the second half of the race to finish ahead of Sam Sheppard of Ringwood VIC and Codie Grimsey of Cashmere who finished second and third respectively.
O’Brien, who trains under Dennis Cotteral in Miami, won bronze in the 10km Australian 2010 Open Water Swimming Championships to gain selection into the pan-pacific team.
“I didn’t have the best start but picked up pretty quickly. It was then good to be in front because you can keep an eye on the guys behind,” O’Brien said.
Australian long distance swimmer, Melissa Gorman, was fierce competition in the female field.
Gorman, who won the event in 2009 dominated the womens field taking the lead early and maintaining a steady stroke to finish ahead of the Sunshine Coast Sarah Kime and 2010 champion Danielle Defrancesco.
Gorman will now focus her efforts on competing for Australia at the 2012 London Olympics.
“Having being already selected for the Olympics it’s a really good feeling. I am really looking forward to next year. I am going to head over to New Zealand to compete in a few events like this one as the waters are a bit colder over there however it’s still close to home.
“Depending on my training schedule I will see how many other events like these I can do around the country but obviously I can’t miss too many as it starts to even out,” Gorman said.
Ky Hurst, who held the title for 8 consecutive years placed 4th in the event.
“I felt good, it was hard. There were a lot of great swimmers today. That’s what we want to see, good pool swimmers and good open water swimmers all at once, that’s why the pace was so quick.
“I’ve been coming here for a very long time and I can always come back next year. Now I’ve got something to work towards.
“We had perfect conditions, it was really flat and it suited every single person, we couldn’t have asked for anything more, and the calibre of swimmers here – it was just fantastic,” Hurst said.
Ironman world champion, Chris McCormack, competed in the mates-wave of the event as a good hit out before racing in Sunday’s pinnacle event of the festival, the renowned Noosa Triathlon.
“I think the girls beat us. We do these swim races all over the country so for us it’s a bit of fun.
“I beat my mate by about 40 seconds so I can just gloat about that for the next year,” McCormack said.
Prior to the elite component a massive field of just over 1200 competed in today’s ocean swim event.
Tomorrow is Super Saturday at the Noosa Triathlon Multi Sport Festival 2011. Some of the highlights of tomorrow’s program include The Courier Mail Noosa Superkidz triathlon, The Tingiarana The Legends Triathlon, the Subaru Noosa Cycling Grand Prix and the Asics Bolt.
The highlight of the weekend is the Noosa Triathlon on Sunday, which has attracted over 8000 triathletes.
A full set of results will be posted on www.noosatri.com.au.
The Noosa Triathlon Multi Sport Festival is supported by the Queensland Government through Events Queensland as part of a record investment in major events supporting regions all over Queensland, including the Sunshine Coast.