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Isle of Wight: Jack Grundy in World Xterra Off-Road Triathlon Championships in Hawaii

Grundy scorches in Hawaii heat

Friday, November 14, 2008
Grundy scorches in Hawaii heat
Jack Grundy, who was the 12th junior at the World Xterra Off-Road Triathlon Championships.
TRIATHLONISLAND triathlete Jack Grundy put in a stunning performance in scorching temperatures to finish 12th for his age group in the World Xterra Off-Road Triathlon Championships in Hawaii.
After winning the Junior Xterra National Off-Road Triathlon in Tradegar, Wales, in July, Grundy, 19, of Freshwater, represented Great Britain in Maui, competing against national champions from around the globe.
The gruelling event was staged from Mekena Beach where 550 athletes completed a 1,500m swim in the Pacific Ocean, followed by a 31km off-road cycle heading towards Haleakala Volcano and then an 11km off-road run, which included a varied terrain, from volcanic rocks to soft white sand.
The spectacular start from the beach saw Grundy move quickly into the water and establish a leading position on the first of the two 750m laps, matching the senior professional triathletes.
After the first lap, Grundy exited the water still in the top ten as he sprinted a 100m along the soft sand to re-enter the ocean for the second lap. The Wight Tri athlete showed his maturity by easing back slightly on lap two to sit in with the lead pack and was still 17th in an excellent time of 18.45 as he entered transition.
With a start time of 9am, the temperature was soon well over 30 degrees and this, plus the demanding hills and volcanic surface, made the off-road cycle extremely tough with many sections of the course unridable.
Punctures plus broken chains were the order of the day but Grundy rode a cautious path to avoid mishaps. He returned to transition in 2.08.59 and, although he had lost places, was still among the top juniors.
At the start of the run the temperature had risen to an almost unbearable 37 degrees, making even spectating very uncomfortable. However, Grundy stuck to his task as the run headed straight out and upwards towards the volcano before snaking down through Spooky Woods, where ducking and climbing over trees was required.
The course then moved onto the white sandy beach where there was no respite from the sun before scrambling over volcanic rocks to Mekena Bay and into the spectacular finish at the Maui Prince Hotel.
Jack’s time for the 11km run was a very respectable 1.00.41, to give him an overall time of 3.31.15 for an overall position of 143rd and 12th junior.
This event is one of the toughest in the world which showed how Grundy has the desire and talent to progress in the sport.
The trip was funded with sponsorship from the Isle of Wight Council, Total Fitness, Sharon Orchard, of Ryde, and Beco Webdesign.