February 27th, 2012 2:45pm
Written by Mark van Aken
All photos credit to Russ Baker
Troy Brosnan (SA) (pictured left) and Tracey Hannah (QLD) both had outstanding races to win the Subaru Specialized 2012 Australian MTB Championships at Eagle MTB Park in Adelaide this past weekend.
After a week of hot temperatures, weather at Adelaide’s Eagle Park resulted in a dusty looser track for the U19 male and female riders with light rain moving in to introduce the Elite to a faster smoother course.
Local Brosnan, the reigning dual Junior World Champion, and was competing in his first championship-level race in the Elite field. He’s been dominating the Elite field during the National season races, and today was almost business-as-usual for the young professional. Speaking on how it feels to win his first Australian Championship, Brosnan said: “I’ve always wanted to win it in Elite and to do it in my rookie year, it’s pretty amazing”. On winning at home: “Massive that my friends & family are here, it’s the icing on cake”.
With only one rider on track at all times, Brosnan could hear the information from the start about all who went down the track in front of him. “It was a bit daunting to hear Sam’s time, I knew I needed to have the perfect fun. I tried to stay calm and hung it all out there”.
Brosnan’s transition from Junior to Senior has been astonishing. He spoke now of enormous but yet completely realistic goals for his first year in the Elite international field. “This win is a huge confidence builder going into the World Cups, I’m now heading to the first World Cup in South Africa aiming for the win”.
Second-placed Sam Hill (WA) (photo right) has been steadily progressing from an injury-affected year in 2011 and came away from the Championships happy with his form.
“My race was good in the loose and dusty conditions, a good weekend overall”, said a positive Hill.
He brushed off any talk of his injuries “I’m feeling pretty good, my shoulders aren’t giving me any real trouble, I’m feeling healthy, looking forward to the international season”.
Hill, when asked about the challenges being laid down by his team-mate and friend Brosnan, said “There’s no stress, it’s been good battling in the National Season, and I’m looking forward to racing at Awaba again next weekend”.
The podium was rounded out by Rhys Willemse (QLD) in a time of 2:01.92.
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(Tracey Hannah on her Morewood bike) Former Junior World Champion Tracey Hannah last won the Australian Championship back in 2008, and barely competed again until late 2011. In what has been a comeback that any athlete could only dream of, Tracey today continued her dominance of the sport since her return at this week’s Subaru Specialized Australian Championships.
Tracey was streets ahead of the Australian women’s field, and also finished in front of international legend and US National Champion Jill Kintner (USA) (photo right) and Shelly Flood (VIC) on her way to the title.
Hannah was ecstatic “It feels amazing, it just couldn’t be better”. Knowing Kintner was so close in the seeding runs, Hannah said “I adjusted a few things today and tried to get as much speed as I could. I had a lot of determination on my side, pedaling wherever I could”.
Hannah has had the ideal preparation for her assault on the World Cups: “I want to be as calm as I can, not be too overwhelmed and I’ll be aiming for a top 5 at the first World Cup in South Africa”.
In the Under 19 racing, as the clouds closed in so did Connor Fearon speeding through to defend his U19 title taking his 4th championship win (since U17’s) in 2:02.15.
“In defending my title I definitely felt more pressure but each win the win feels so much better after all the training’
(U 19 Champ Connor Fearon on his way to taking another national title)
Connors’ family have been supportive throughout and key to the overall running of such a successful event.
‘Now I’m competing along with the Elite in the World Championships, I really hope my training places me into the top 30.
Connor finished a notable fourth outright on the day and surely has a promising future ahead.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
Elite Male
1 Troy Brosnan SA 1:59.05
2 Sam Hill WA 2:01.19
3 Rhys Willemse QLD 2:01.92
4 Chris Kovarik 2:03.59
5 Bryn Atkinson NSW 2:04.01
6 Jared Graves QLD 2:04.20
7 Mitchell Delfs WA 2:04.43
8 Rhys Atkinson VIC 2:06.50
9 Will Rischbieth 2:07.70
10 Luke Ball WA 2:07.71
11 Ben Power QLD 2:07.96
12 Timothy Eaton ACT 2:08.11
13 Mathew Dodd QLD 2:08.30
14 Angus Maddern SA 2:09.38
15 Jesse Beare VIC 2:09.43
16 Marcus Fairbanks VIC 2:10.17
17 Graeme Mudd NSW 2:10.41
18 Daniel Paine NSW 2:10.55
19 Jared Rando 2:10.88
20 Brendan Moon NSW 2:11.45
Elite Women
1 Tracey Hannah QLD 2:15.07
2 Jill Kintner Other 2:23.59
3 Shelly Flood VIC 2:31.77
4 Alyssa Lyons VIC 2:36.01
5 Lisa Mathison QLD 2:42.80
Under 19 Male
1 Connor Fearon SA 2:02.15
2 Dean Lucas VIC 2:03.00
3 Thomas Crimmins NSW 2:04.93
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