Ryan relishes European racing

if things went well.

Marlborough triathlete Ryan

Marfell is a tiger for punishment. Immediately following his highly-meritorious eighth placing in the under-19 class at last month’s Age Group World championships in Hamburg, Germany, the 18-year-old Marlborough Boys’ College student put his name down to race two days later in the Olympic distance open race. Having travelled so far to test his skills and endurance against the world’s best, Ryan reckoned it was too good an opportunity to pass up.

Despite some expected tiredness from his previous efforts, he managed a respectable time against some of the big names, finishing fifth in his age group. But it was the age group sprint distance race [750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run] that Ryan travelled to Europe for, with an initial ambition of finishing somewhere around 10th to 15th

“I came out of the water around 15th,” recalled Ryan, “it was a pretty nasty swim.

“You had no visibility when you went under the bridge on the course, the water was pitch black and you did well to see your own elbow, it was so murky. And because it was the world champs everyone was really going for it and wanted to be near the front.

It was certainly next level from the national champs.

“On the bike leg through the city streets, my strongest discipline, I ended up in a chase pack that was slightly slower than what I had hoped for and didn’t push as hard as they could.

“Then, coming into T2, I had a muck-up with my helmet. I was recalled after failing to put it in the bin, which cost me some val uable time.

“The run was pretty good … I ran with an Aussie athlete who I got away from near the finish line, so maybe could have pushed a bit harder,” he explained. Although Ryan admitted his helmet issue may have cost him a couple of places, he was philosophical.

“It is what it is … but I was super happy and satisfied with eighth position.”

So satisfied in fact that, the following day, he rocked up to registration and entered the Olympic-distance race, an open event, which took place a day later.

After one day’s rest, he fronted up for the 1500m swim, 40km bike and 10km run event, which he said, “turned out really well, considering …”.

“The swim went well up until the halfway mark when my shoulders began to hurt, which I knew was going to happen after racing so

“I came out of the swim in third place among those in my heat then, although I was on my normal road bike, and the others were riding TT bikes with aerodynamic helmets, I was only passed by one rider on the bike leg.

Ryan Marfell strides out on the Hamburg triathlon course. At the weekend he underlined his current run of stellar form with a second placing in the NZ secondary schools duathlon champs in Auckland. Photo: Supplied.

“The run leg was good until the 7km mark, then it started to hurt and cramping came on. But I ended up fifth in the 18-24 age group which I was pleased with … and glad that I decided to race again.”

Ryan says his German trip has given him a sizeable confidence boost.

He is young enough to compete in the under-19 grade at next year’s world age groups and underlined his potential with a second placing at the weekend’s national schools duathlon championships. Ryan has been blown away by the support he received from the local community on his return from Germany, including two inspiring ‘welcome back’ haka from fellow students at MBC assemblies.

He is grateful for the support of his coach, Mark Grammer, plus family and sponsors, including Berakah Estate, Inspire Foundation, Bikes and Scooters, Benoli Vinyards, Blenheim Round Table, Provincial Coldstores Limited and Solutions 93.