The Duathlon National Series returned with the season opener bright and dry, if somewhat chilly in the Sunny South East. With 250 athletes registered, the first round of the Duathlon National Series saw a stacked field arrive to take on Waterford Triathlon Club’s Tramore Medical Duathlon.
Niall Cornyn made his return to racing for the first time since 2023 today, leading from the off and earning maximum points in his opening bid for this year’s series title. Putting down the fastest run across both legs, Cornyn’s lead never looked in doubt crossing the finish line in 50:59 on the men’s sprint distance course.
Behind Cornyn, the bike leg had the biggest effect on the final standings. Coming into T1, a large group consisting of Robbie Tosh, Aidan Walsh, David Halligan, Radoslaw Gruska and Anthony Buckley made up the chase pack 12 seconds behind.
Eventual second and third placed David Higgins and Enda Bagnall both made up deficit on the bike course, and held their positions through the second run, crossing the finish line to complete the podium.
Waterford TC’s Aine Kinsella is always one to watch in any multisport field, and today was no exception. Coming off the first run, Crosshaven’s Meadhbh Moynihan and Portmarnock’s Chrissy Harford had the quickest splits, but quicker transition times saw Kealey Tideswell and Aine Kinsella overtake the pair and head out onto the bike course in first and second respectively.
The quickest bike split of the day saw Aine Kinsella pull into the lead and hold that lead all the way to the finish line.
Limerick’s Roisin Kelleher and Meadhbh Moynihan were next into T2. Tideswell overtook both on the run course with the fastest second run split to earn her second place on the podium. Third place went to Roisin Kelleher.
Full results can be found HERE.
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