Returning Champions Dominate Endurance Series Finale

It’s proving a happy hunting ground for the 2022 Hamilton Island Endurance Series Triathlon and Ocean champions, with all four winners having previously tasted success in the tropics.

Rising star and 2019 Triathlon champion; Emma Hogan returned after a Covid-enforced hiatus and dominated from the opening leg; opening a strong lead in the swim, pulling away on the bike leg and maintaining a 4 minute lead through the run leg over Penny Nevill and Megan Hendry who filled the minor places. Hogan, originally from Proserpine, continues her development under the tutelage of the legendary Emma Carney in Melbourne as she looks to take the next step onto the world stage.

Local aviation firefighter Dan Mcdonnell added a second Endurance Series title for 2022 to his collection in an epic battle with some more well known adversaries. Having won the Hilly Half Marathon in May, Mcdonnell returned to race in his preferred sport of triathlon, and had to overcome a deficit out of T2, running down Bondi Rescue’s Clint Kimmins with a gritty run. Luke McKenzie, more well known for long course racing having won 9-Ironman titles and finishing second at the Ironman Hawaii event as part of an illustrious career, rounded out the podium.

In the Ocean Swim; it was the case of history repeating with young guns; Jett Clayton and Hayley Andrejic defending their titles. For Clayton, it was a case of dejavu; holding off Whitsunday stars Jye Parkinson and Jacob Bell. After establishing an early lead with Bondi Lifeguard Dean Gladstone, Clayton and the field came back together for the middle section of the race. Having just pushed through a heavy training block, Clayton utilised his strength and established a body length lead pushing into the mild current along the back end of he course and turned for home. The tempo went up a notch in the push for home, with Parkinson pressing to get back onto Clayton’s feet but he held him at bay and held on for a seven -second win and Bell a further 16 seconds back.
 
In the women, Hayley Andrejic also defended her title, with the fifth fastest swim of the day overall, Andrejic showed her true swim pedigree, with triathlon champ Hogan the second female home, almost a minute in arrears. Younger sister Maddison Andrejic rounded out the podium, just ahead of swimming royalty; with Olympic gold medallists Linda Single (nee Mackenzie) and Susie O’Neill rounding out the top-five!