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Wins for Cunnama and Pallant

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The PEople’s Triathlon, a Professional Triathletes Organisation supported event, took place this past weekend in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

There was a home winner as James Cunnama finished first in the men’s Elite race while Britain’s Emma Pallant led the way for the Elite women.

Cunnama led home a South African 1-2-3, winning from compatriots Matt Trautman and Kyle Buckingham.

The 37-year-old, recently selected as a wild card for the PTO 2020 Championship, was strongest in the closing stages as he dropped fellow Daytona hopeful Trautman following a shoulder-to-shoulder battle for much of the 21k run.

Cunnama, who described the success as “awesome” but was not happy with his performance in the swim, said: “Matt just stayed on my shoulder the whole run. Only in last few hundred metres was I able to get a bit of a gap. Definitely not a relaxed, comfortable win. But a win’s a win.”

Pallant, fellow Daytona hopeful Annah Watkinson and Jade Nicole dominated the women’s race from start to finish. It was the British star though who held off the home contingent to win in a time of 4:12:35.

Nicole was fastest into T2 but the 31-year-old Pallant was the first to exit and she produced the fastest run of the day to ensure victory.

The South African event featured prize pools boosted by the PTO, to the tune of $15,000. The victorious Pallant was quick to emphasise the importance of that backing in these troubled times.

“I think without the PTO, I don’t think everyone would come here for this race. It’s just brought a really quality field together and given us a fantastic professional race opportunity. It’s massive for us and it’s keeping things going in a hard time for the sport.”

The Age Group race was won by Port Elizabeth’s Ross Barnard (4:08:26) ahead of Cape Town’s James McCallum (4:09:36) and PE’s former Ironman Champion, Raynard Tissink (4:12:53) whilst Johannesburg athlete Toinette Niekerk (4:55:24) won the ladies Age Group race from Port Elizabeth’s Antonella Saporta (04:58:35) and fellow Johannesburg athlete Genelle Van der Riet (05:13:50).

Team Automax took the spoils in 4:42 ahead of Team APL San Miguel and Randcivils Team 2.

Whilst the local athletes now look forward to the Triathlon Summer Series which features 4 Sprint or Super-Sprint races in 7 days starting on the 13th December, the elite triathletes around the world eagerly-awaited the PTO 2020 Championship on December 6 which sees a star-studded field of 120 athletes competing for a record purse of $1,150,000.

PEoples Triathlon 2020
In a very tightly contested run, the 3 front runners were shoulder to shoulder most the way. Matt Trautman, James Cunnama and Kyle Buckingham pictured during the final stages of the 21km run leg. Photo: Richard Pearce.
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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.