Kieran Storch (AUS) and Demi Birch (AUS) claimed victory at Challenge Gunsan-Saemangeum, crossing the finish line in 3:51:04 and 4:37:16, respectively.
In the men’s race, Caleb Noble (AUS) exited the water first in 23:43, with the three chasers, Nicholas Free (AUS), Kenshin Mizushima (JPN), and Bogdan Kovalenko (KAZ), all within 10 seconds. Kieran Storch (AUS) started the bike 2:10 behind the lead group.
Mizushima briefly led early on the bike before Kovalenko moved to the front at kilometre 12, opening a 30-second gap to Mizushima and Noble. By kilometre 34, Storch had steadily moved through the field to second place, reducing the gap to under two minutes. At the halfway point of the 90km bike, Kovalenko led Storch by 1:45, while Mizushima and Noble were a further two minutes back. Heading into the final lap, Kovalenko’s advantage had been reduced to 1:20. He entered T2 first in 1:56:51, with Storch only seconds behind after closing the gap over the final kilometres.
Storch took the lead early on the run and maintained it to the finish, winning in 3:51:04. Kovalenko finished second in 3:54:34, while Nathan Dortmann (AUS) secured third place in 4:02:51 after moving through the field during the closing stages of the run.
“I am super stoked to win, “ said Storch. “I really like all races in Asia; they suit me well. I have been in Taiwan for the last six weeks to get ready for the heat here.”
In the women’s race, Demi Birch established an early lead during the swim, completing the first lap with a 1:47 advantage over Rachel Faulds (CAN). Birch exited the water first in 26:27, 4:10 ahead of Faulds. Nicole Valentine (AUS) and Amy Vantassel (AUS) started the bike in third and fourth, just over six minutes behind.
Birch continued to extend her advantage throughout the bike. By kilometre 12 she led by seven minutes, while Valentine closed the gap to Faulds before moving into second at the end of the opening bike lap. At kilometre 56, Birch’s lead had grown to almost 10 minutes over Valentine, with Faulds and Vantassel another five minutes behind. Birch entered T2 in 2:22:04, holding a 14-minute lead over Valentine, while Vantassel started the run four minutes further back.
Vantassel moved into second place during the run, but Birch remained in control throughout, claiming her first middle-distance victory in 4:37:16. Vantassel finished second in 4:54:48, with Valentine completing the podium in 5:07:28.
“I am glad to be here, but that was really hard, “ said Birch. “Pretty special to have my first win at a Challenge race, I will definitely be back”.
Challenge Gunsan-Saemangeum took place in warm conditions, with air temperatures around 30°C. The professional race featured a non-wetsuit swim after the water temperature reached 24°C. Athletes raced on the Saemangeum Seawall course along South Korea’s west coast.
Finish Line Interviews
Kieran Storch – https://youtu.be/zF09f9CUAc0
Demi Birch – https://youtu.be/M4IIRFQ8g30