Matt Stephens & Sarah Crowley new State Olympic Champions:

Sunday 18th February 2007 saw the running of the State Olympic Distance Championships in rather warm blustery conditions which tested the tri-athletes' stamina to the full. The wind made the swim and cycle legs quite testing in places, while the softer sand allowed the runners to come to the fore. This meant that times were generally 4% to 5% longer than in previous years but it did not detract from the fierce competition on the day.

Sixty three males, twenty females and five teams were sent on their way in four waves to determine the State Champions in the Olympic event.

Lakers' Matt Stephens came out of the water half a minute behind club-mate Matt White, but took the lead in the cycle leg and drew away in the run to win by a comfortable margin of two and a half minutes. Matt White managed to hold off a determined Scott Green (last year's winner) in the run leg, with only 15 seconds between them.
The women's event was dominated by Metors' Sarah Crowley from the onset with only runner-up Jackelyn Prentice (Adelaide Vales) taking any ground off Sarah, when she made up almost a minute in the cycle leg. Lisa Albinus filled third placing.

The Short Course and Come 'n' Tri courses also attracted good entries and fierce competition amongst individuals and between teams.

Maryborough tri-athlete, Paul Pumpa went to the lead over Mount Gambier's Owen Williams and Horsham's Thomas Blair after a great cycle leg and held on to defeat the other two by less than half a minute. Owen's stronger run leg proved the deciding factor in gaining him third place over Thomas.

Helen Roach from the Tribe club dominated the female Short course to run away with a comfortable win over Sara Slayman in the Open division. Excellent races also came from Meteor's Jana Donnelly and Horsham's Fiona O'Brien, finishing second and third overall and each winning their respective age divisions.

Local Casey Sharpe and Mount Gambier's Hayley McKinlay won the male and female divisions of the Come 'n' Tri races.

The shield for the best school team was won by first time entrants Tennison College in Mount Gambier from another school new to competing in triathlons, Kangaroo Inn Area School.

Congratulations go not only to all winners, but to all those who completed their respective races in trying conditions. You were all winners!