Lalomanu witnessed a remarkable display of endurance and determination on Saturday as three Aussie triathletes—Linton Stolk (46), Jason Gillis (56), and Michael Bruderer (41)—fought it out in the 9th Warrior Long Triathlon Race. Under the relentless heat, it was Linton Stolk who emerged victorious, crossing the finish line in a time of 7 hours and 15 minutes, the longest winning time in Warrior history.
Jason Gillis followed closely behind, finishing in 7 hours and 42 minutes. Michael Bruderer, battling the scorching conditions, completed the race in 8 hours and 51 minutes, just nine minutes shy of nine hours.
Warrior is a gruelling race for any participant, particularly for visitors. The heat takes its toll very early on and does not let up. Warrior begins with a 2 km swim at the picturesque Lalomanu Beach, which, while challenging, is the easiest part of the race. Participants then take on a demanding 90 km bike ride, which includes a long hill climb to the top of Afulilo hill. The final leg is a half marathon, taking place during the hottest part of the day.
For Stolk, Gillis, and Bruderer, this race was unlike anything they had encountered before. "It’s the hardest race I’ve done," Stolk admitted after crossing the finish line.
Bruderer, a seasoned Ironman competitor, acknowledged the unique challenge posed by the Warrior. "It was the hardest one I’ve done on top of Ironman. But you know, it takes someone to be a Warrior," he remarked.
The intense afternoon heat was a significant factor for all three athletes. Gillis, who led the race at one point, emphasised the importance of heat management. "It was an awesome race though. It’s hot, it’s challenging. That climb was excellent. The swim was beautiful but beating the heat during the day is the key to getting in early," he said.
Reflecting on his performance, Gillis added, "Yeah, I couldn’t catch Linton, I knew what I had to do. I’ve got an old body, and the body made it through."
The three triathletes travelled to Sāmoa with their families, making their first visit to the beautiful island nation. For Stolk and Gillis, it was a memorable debut, and both vowed to return.
The Warrior Long Triathlon Race not only tested their physical limits but also left them with unforgettable experiences of Sāmoa's challenging yet stunning landscape.
Warrior was the longest race of the day. The other two distances Beat the Heat Olympic distance triathlon and Sprint Triathlon were contested by local triathletes.
SALU FAILĀUGA OF ITŪ O TANE WINS BEAT THE HEAT TRIATHLON
Itū o Tane College and Club member Salu Failāuga, 18, easily won Beat the Heat. He finished in a time of 3h 39m. He is seen here descending at the bottom of the Sāmusu hill on his way to complete two coastal laps of the bike.
The four clubs of Sāmoa Cycling and Sāmoa Triathlon competed in Beat the Heat and Sprint distances. They did amazingly well. Warrior BTH distances were 1.5 km swim, 43 km bike and 10 km run.
The outstanding result of the day was our newest athlete Ueligitone Manuele of Lalomanu Club won the Sprint distance in a time of 2h 26m.
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