Goesch & Kahlefeldt Triumph at Husky

Finland’s Henrik Goesch overcomes local stalwart Tim Van Berkel, Radka Kahlefeldt too strong for a courageous Chloe Hartnett.

A long-standing feature of the Australian multisport calendar, the 2024 Husky Triathlon Festival on the weekend of the 24th and 25^th of February yet again delivered high quality racing.

Conditions and Pre-Race Contenders

Pleasant and warming conditions greeted the over 5,000 elite and age group athletes as they took on the 1.9km swim, 90km bike and 21km run long course distance from Jervis Bay Marine Park in Shoalhaven, New South Wales.

With victory in the recent Wollongong Aquathon, and other strong performances in Australian conditions, Finland’s Henrik Goesch and the in-form Nicholas Free, the winner at both Husky last year and the recent Ironman 70.3 Tasmania, were highly favoured on the pro men’s side.

The women’s pro race shaped as a contest between the classy Radka Kahlefeldt and the determined Chloe Hartnett, coming back after a bike crash at Ironman 70.3 Tasmania only three weeks earlier.

Goesch Eclipses Van Berkel

From the swim start, Joe Begbie led out the male pros, with group forming behind him on the two lap course, including Joshua Wooldridge, Tim Van Berkel, Harrison Wiles, Quentin Schneider, Goesch and Free.  

Out of transition, and at the front Wiles and Goesch were demonstrating their strength on the bike, with Van Berkel in touch and making multiple moves.

The race hung in the balance off the bike and onto the run, with Goesch in the lead and Free closing. Van Berkel couldn’t be shaken, however, catching Free at the turnaround and moving to within twenty seconds of Goesch.

Goesch then managed to dig deep and hold his nerve to take the win, gradually pulling away from Van Berkel in second with Free rounding out the podium in third.

Kahlefeldt’s Run Decisive

A close tussle between Kahlefeldt and Hartnett emerged from the start of the women’s race, with the duo matching each other throughout the two lap swim and into transition.

Showing no apparent ill-effects from her bike accident in Hobart, Hartnett continued to take the race up to Kahlefeldt on the bike, riding confidently throughout and setting the scene for a dramatic finish. 

However, from the outset of the run, Kahlefeldt stamped her authority on the race, quickly pulling away from the gutsy Hartnett to secure a convincing win.

Victorian Skye Wallace, competing as an age-grouper in the 20-24 year old category, announced herself as an emerging talent on the national stage, finishing as the third fastest woman in a highly impressive four hours and twenty six minutes, just over two minutes behind Hartnett.

Top Finishers – Husky Ultimate (1.9km swim, 90km bike, 21.1km run)

Men

1.    Henrik Goesch                      3:48:19

2.    Tim Van Berkel                     3:49:10

3.    Nicholas Free                       3:51:34

4.    Harrison Wiles                      3:54:43

5.    Joshua Wooldridge              3:55:40

6.    Matt Lewis                             3:57:46

7.    Brett Hallam                          3:58:36

8.    Matthias Hohlrieder            3:59:06

9.    Cameron Wilson                  3:59:26

10. Calvin Amos                          4:02:24

Women

1.    Radka Kahlefeldt                 4:17:16

2.    Chloe Hartnett                      4:23:45

3.    Skye Wallace                        4:26:06

4.    Demi Birch                            4:28:52

5.    Megan Chapple                    4:30:00

6.    Rachael McCarthy               4:33:10

7.    Kirra Seidel                           4:35:24

8.    Courtney Wevers                 4:35:36

9.    Danyella Eberle                    4:37:39

10. Katie Remond                       4:40:32

Full Results

Full results from the day’s racing can be found here –

https://www.multisportaustralia.com.au/races/husky-classic-and-ultimate-2024/events/4/