Triathlon Champion Secures Historic Third Consecutive Win
Hamilton's sporting prodigy Monty Dixon has cemented his status as Newcastle's triathlon king, securing his third straight Sparke Helmore Newcastle City Triathlon victory on Sunday. The 21-year-old professional athlete, who wasn't even born when the event began in 1994, dominated the sprint distance course despite unexpected challenges that forced organisers to modify the race route.
Race Drama and Outstanding Performances
The popular Newcastle foreshore event, now in its 32nd year, attracted approximately 900 competitors ranging from novices to elite athletes. While participants enjoyed idyllic racing conditions, an illegally parked vehicle on Shortland Esplanade created significant drama, forcing organisers to reduce the bike leg by two kilometres. Event organiser Paul Humphreys expressed disappointment about the situation, noting the vehicle was parked in a clear no-parking zone.
Despite the course alteration, Dixon completed the modified sprint distance of 750-metre swim, 18-kilometre cycle and 5km run in 58 minutes and 49 seconds. Sydney's Dylan Clough claimed second place with a time of 59.11, while Belmont's Hamish Longmuir, a previous event winner, secured third position in one hour and 50 seconds.
The local contingent showed strong form with Cooper Lee (1:01.11) finishing fourth after being last year's runner-up, and multiple event winner Nathan Stewart (1:03.47) taking sixth place.
Women's Competition and Future Events
In the women's competition, New Lambton's Courtney Wevers (1:09.33) claimed victory in a thrilling sprint finish, narrowly defeating Central Coast athlete Rachael McCarthy (1:09.35) by just two seconds. Maitland's rising talent Madeline Platt (1:15.12) completed the podium in third position.
Humphreys praised the high-quality field, noting that despite the event's local nature, it attracted professional athletes who regularly compete overseas. The Hamilton 21-year-old's latest victory adds to his growing reputation after also winning the Island Triathlon at Stockton in February.
Looking ahead, the triathlon community can anticipate the next Island Triathlon event scheduled for February 1 around Stockton. Sunday's successful event demonstrated the continuing popularity of triathlon in the Newcastle region, with perfect weather conditions contributing to an enthusiastic atmosphere that overcame the early parking-related challenges.
