Costelloe, Ross crowned national triathlon champs

After their victories, both took time to praise the overall winners for their tremendous efforts in what has become one of the region’s top triathlon events on the calendar.

Ross defended her national title in the Olympic distance in two hours, 32 minutes and 49 seconds (2:32:49) after finishing fourth overall among the women.

Venezuela’s Genesis Ruiz won the category.

The Olympic distance requires athletes to swim 1.5km, ride 40km and run 10km.

Costelloe, competing in the same distance, won the national men’s title after finishing sixth overall in 2:21:13. Barbados’ Jason Wilson placed first.

On retaining the national title, Ross said, “(I feel) ecstatic. I believe last year was a bit of a jewel in the rough that I won Rainbow Cup (overall women’s title), so this year I am happy to just claim back the (national) championship.” Ross congratulated Ruiz for winning the overall title, saying she was unbeatable on the day.

“She was on fire, wow, I saw her and she was just in her zone, and when you get a person in a zone there is no stopping them. Congratulations to her.” Ross said the conditions were fair but it was somewhat challenging.

“The race conditions were actually pretty good.

The water was a bit bumpy, but not too bad. The bike is always a rolling hilly course which is always tough on any of the athletes.

By the time you get on that run, it is either scorching or extremely scorching.” Costelloe commended Wilson for his achievement and described him as a phenomenal athlete.

“He is the first triathlete I believe from the Caribbean to qualify for the Olympics in the sport of triathlon. He is a professional athlete and that just goes to show the difference between an amateur like myself and a professional athlete.

It clearly showed today, he was well in front of me. Congratulations to Jason on winning the triathlon.” Despite not winning the overall and men’s title, Costelloe was satisfied on taking the local crown.

“It feels great once again. Last year I came second, so this year I got back first place so it is a great feeling once again,” he said