Luca takes top prize
Stirling University’s Luca Fanottoli and former Beaconhurst pupil Sophia Green were the stars of the show as Triathlon Scotland returned to Loch Lomond for the sixth Scottish National Championships of the 2018 season on Saturday.
Italian-born Fanottoli saw off the challenge of 2016 champion and Triathlon Scotland Development Squad member Cameron Harris (also Stirling University) and Lewis Strachan while Green, who travelled to the Gold Coast as reserve for the Commonwealth Games team, came home ahead of four-time champion Natalie Stewart and Keira Gore.
The men and women set off together and after the 750m swim, Harris exited first in 10.02 followed by Strachan (10:04) and then Green, competing for Moray Firth Triathlon Club, as the first female (10:06), ahead of third place male Fanottoli (10:11).
Fanottoli found an extra gear on the two-lap 5000 metres course to pass Strachan and Harris to complete the fastest run of the day (16.59) and win in a time of 28.20.
Harris was second in 29.37 (18.22 run time) and Strachan third in 29.38 (run time 18.32).
In the women’s race, Green could not be touched, running 19.42 to finish in first place and fifth overall in the race (31.00).
In overall second place was South Africa’s Shanae Williams (31.54) and in third place, Stewart (32.53). In the Scottish Championships standings, Stewart took silver and Edinburgh’s Keira Gore, who had the fastest female run split of the day (19.36) took bronze place and fourth overall female.
Fanottoli, who is studying computer science at Stirling, said: “It was a good race and first place was so unexpected for me.”
Lomond Swimming and Triathlon Club hosted the vent.