Janet Silvera, Gleaner Writer

Winner of the WATA Rose Hall Triathlon male international distance, Patrick Lee of the Cutters Cycling Club finishing the 40k run on Sunday at Rose Hall in St James. Besides that event, the other events were the 1500-metre swim and 10k bike race. Lee completed the triathlon in 2:26.08. - photo by Janet Silvera

Sending clear signals they will be solid competitors this October, Cutters Cycling Club's Patrick Lee, BRADA's Alexandra Consten and 14-year-old unknown, Oshane Hall, copped the WATA Rose Hall Triathlon dress rehearsal in Montego Bay on Sunday morning.

Heralded by a wellness festival, that takes place from October 23-25, the official WATA Rose Hall Triathlon will be staged within the 'Elegant Corridors' of the reputed Rose Hall community on Sunday, October 26.

Lee clocked the male international distance 1500-metre swim, 10k bike and 40k run in 2:26.08, well ahead of his closest rivals, second-placed Tytgat Redgy and Nigel Knowles, who finished in 2:50.43 and 2:50:57, respectively.

Consten, who toured the island recently as a member of the all-female BRADA cycling team, walked away with the female international title - clocking an admirable 2:40.15. Young Hall caused quite an upset to take the male and female sprints in 1:39.20.

Commenting on the high endurance event, Patrick Lee said the bike run, which carried the riders through the hills of Spring Farm, was undulating and very challenging.

"You have to be good at hill climbing, cornering and descending," he said, adding that the run on the historic Cinnamon Hill Golf Course was no easier.

"Very undulating hills," he said. "But it was a nice run because you are sort of enjoying the scenery as you go up and down."

Lee, who has competed in three Ironman distances and will enter the Half Ironman Championships in November, said he had to pace himself uphill in order to win.

Dynamic female

The dynamic female triathlete, Consten, who arrived at the finish line breathless, said her legs became extremely tired uphill during the run on the golf course.

"It was very challenging in the middle section."

The competitor who received a lot of attention, however, was Hall, a student of St James High School. Equipped with natural athleticism, Hall did the entire course barefooted.

"I knew I was at a disadvantage because I am not the best of runners, so I built up the distance in the swim and the bike," he revealed.

After admitting that during the race he felt like stopping, Hall noted he was motivated to continue when he realised he was in the lead.

Over 60 athletes participated in Sunday's event.