JOHANNESBURG - It was another red-letter day for South Africa as the country’s top four triathletes, spearheaded by second-placed Richard Murray, finished in the top 10 at the at World Triathlon Series Gold Coast event in Australia on Saturday.
Murray added the WTS silver medal to his two World Cup victories, while Wian Sullwald cracked the top 10 for the first time in his career when finishing in ninth place, one spot adrift of Rio Olympics bronze medallist Henri Schoeman.
To add to the country’s success at the Gold Coast sprint event, Gillian Sanders also finished in the top 10 in the women’s race earlier in the day with her ninth place after clocking 58 minutes and 37 seconds.
After two WTS events, Murray is ranked second overall behind Spain’s Javier Gomez Noya with Schoeman lying in fifth place.
Schoeman once again produced a strong first-leg swim, getting out the water in first place after posting a time of 8:42 with, Sullwald not far behind.
The early advantage on the bike leg soon diminished with the chasing pack catching with a group of five athletes including Murray.
Murray and Spanish training partner Mario Mola dominated the running leg, the Spaniard crossing the line four seconds ahead of the South African in a time of 52.39.
“I think it is almost compared to Rio - I gave everything I could and Mario was like a surging machine out there, like a car going in sport mode every 20 seconds,” Murray told the world triathlon website.
“But I responded as much as I could and then I was on the rivet for maybe the last U-turn all the way back near transition and I stayed with him a few times but I did all I could.
“I like to bring it and go flat out from the gun,” he added.
“I was very happy with my swim. I looked back towards that and I might be unhappy coming second tomorrow, and I raced last weekend, but I gave it everything that I could and I can’t ask for more.”
The silver medal signalled the end of Murray’s first block on the international circuit as he prepares to race in his first Half Ironman.