Bryan Keane rounded out the 2015 season with a 22nd place finish in the Tongyeong ITU World Cup. The Cork man emerged from the 1500m swim in a time of 17:48 which saw him join the large leading bike pack. Onto the run and despite missing 6 weeks of run training due to injury, Keane clocked 32:57 for the 10 kilometres.
“22nd in Tongyeong ITU World Cup. The 2015 triathlon season is over thankfully and another year down.” Keane posted on social media after the race.
“It has been a frustrating year with a bit of everything, the highs could have been higher and lows could have been a lot worse, that’s just sport and the hard lessons you learn.”
“Excited to get back into some good training now I’m finally injury free and ready for the big year ahead. It’s all about 2016.”
“Thank you to all my friends and family who have supported me this year, you guys are brilliant, and to the ones who keep me on the road, because without their support what I do would not be possible, thank you so much to Triathlon Ireland, Kinetica Sports, Vodafone Ireland, the Irish Institute of Sport, the Irish Sports Council & the Olympic Council of Ireland.”
Teammate Russell White finished 43rd as he continues his development as a senior elite athlete. White put in a fantastic swim performance as he exited the water in 5th place in a time of 17:08. The Banbridge triathlete then biked in the front pack and finished it off with a 34:48 10 kilometre run split.
At the Catania ETU European Cup and Mediterranean Championships there were good performances on show from Con Doherty and Susanna Murphy.
Doherty, in his first senior elite race finish 12th after a brave attempt to breakaway on the bike.
“12th in my first international senior race in European Cup Catania and also the last race of the season.”
“(I) had a real strong swim, making pack one and got away alone on the bike but was pulled back just before the run.”
“Cramped up when I ran but fought, and although I had more to offer, it was an encouraging way to end 2015 before I get set for a more hopeful 2016!”
The race was won by Daniel Hofer of Italy in 59:46 with Doherty crossing the line in 1:00:28.
Susanna Murphy put in a quality performance in the elite women’s race as she finished in 10th position. Murphy was 4th from the water in 11:04 and completed the course in 1:11:21. The race was won by Summer Cook of the USA in 1:06:21