Fintan Kennedy, SLT partner for Jersey, was taken aback by the response to the 2018/19 series opener on Saturday and Sunday, which featured the world’s best triathletes and hundreds of amateurs in a number of new events.
He was due to meet with SLT’s leading officials last night for a 2018 debrief, and to begin discussing plans for 2019.
‘It’s gone up another level,’ said Kennedy.
‘If you consider what went on with the introduction of the youth and junior élite races, the age-group races and the Corporate Mix, and then the élite racing as well – the level of competition was unreal.
‘The elite events were so explosive … it brought us to a different stratosphere.’
Comparing this year’s festival to last year’s pilot event, Kennedy said: ‘It actually felt way more professional than last year.
‘Although it was fantastic last year because it was new to the Island, this year it felt fantastic because we were looking at something really special. Having that level of athlete here is something you can only dream of usually, and Jersey has been pushed out to its max on social media. It has all been very positive.’
Two-time Ironman world champion and SLT co-founder Chris McCormack said: ‘The purpose of Super League Triathlon is to put athletes out of their comfort zone and push them to their limits; and with brutal eliminations, world champion dropouts and unpredictable finishes, it did just that.
‘The Jersey crowd turned out in force to cheer on our competitors, and we can’t wait to head to Malta to put the athletes through their paces once again.’
Jersey’s Ollie Turner will be among those travelling to Malta on 27-28 October for the second round of the Championship, before visiting Mallorca and Singapore in the final two events.
