Kate McIlroy announced her return to top level triathlon with a superb second place at the ITU Asian Cup Triathlon in Seoul, a result that was backed up equally impressively by four other Kiwis in the top 14.
McIlroy has been working hard in training after an off season dominated by surgery to her Achilles tendons, surgery that required a patient and measured return as the former world mountain running champion slowly but surely increased the load on her lower limbs.
McIlroy was only outrun on the day by eventual winner Hideko Kikuchi (JPN), posting 36:36 for the ten kilometre run after posting steady swim and bike legs to finish ahead of the well performed Juri Ide (JPN) on the tough Seoul course that was made even harder thanks to a shifty piece of work from a competitor.
"I had a really bad start and was pretty gutted when I felt my wetsuit zip get pulled down. I thought I could keep swimming, but with the Hahn River gushing into my suit I was turning into lead weight. I stopped to try and zip it up, was a little panicky and only managed to get it half way zipped as most of the field swam past me.
"I thought this would be enough, swam another 10 strokes, realised I wasn't getting anywhere, so stopped again and managed to zip it up completely. I now had a bit of ground to make up. There was also a massive current so managed to tuck in on a few feet and make up a few places. My second lap was pretty good, managing to come out of the water in fifth position.
"Out onto the run, I didn't have the fastest transition with the two Japanese girls, Ide and Kakuchi flying out at a roaring pace. The put a 30m gap on me straight away. I thought I must have been a bit sluggish, but when I found I went through the first kilometre in a handy 3 minutes 15 seconds, I had to really concentrate on holding my own pace otherwise there could have been a possible explosion.
"I held the gap to the two at the front for most of the race. On the last lap, I started closing in on them, managing to pass Jure Ide with 1km to go. I am really happy with the result. It was great to get through the run pain free and finish my first race of the season on the podium.”
McIlroy didn't lack for Kiwi company either as every other New Zealander put in an impressive shift. Up and coming youngsters Teresa Adam (Auckland), Rebecca Kingsford (Waikato) and Simone Ackerman (Whangarei) came home 7th, 8th and 13th respectively while former World Junior champion Rebecca Spence (Auckland) made her return to the sport with a solid 11th place finish on the back of typically strong swim and bike legs.
Wellington's McIlroy underwent surgery on both of her Achilles tendons in the New Zealand summer as she looked to once and for all resolve issues that have dogged the popular 29 year old her entire career.
The surgery has at last allowed McIlroy to train and race pain free as she chases a place at the London Olympic Games next year.
ITU Asian Cup Triathlon
Seoul, Korea
1500m swim, 40km bike, 10km run
Elite Women
1. Hideko Kikuchi (JPN) 2:07:46
2. Kate McIlroy (NZL) 2:07:59
3. Juri Ide (JPN) 2:08:27
Plus NZers
7.Teresa Adam (NZL) 2:10:16
8. Rebecca Kingsford (NZL) 2:10:45
11. Rebecca Spence (NZL) 2:11:54
13 Simmone Ackerman NZL 2:14:15
