Atkinson wins 3rd Noosa Triathlon in a row

NOOSA, Australia — Australian Courtney Atkinson won his third Noosa Triathlon in a row Sunday by beating fellow Beijing Olympian Kris Gemmell, while Switzerland's Caroline Steffen took the women's race. Under perfect weather conditions in this resort town north of Brisbane, Atkinson finished in 1 hour, 46 minutes and 54 seconds. Australian Peter Kerr was third behind New Zealand's Gemmell. Steffen finished ahead of Australian Ashleigh Gentle and Nicky Samuels of New Zealand. Last year's Noosa winner, world under-23 champion Emma Jackson of Australia, was fourth. Just three weeks after finishing second to Australian Mirinda Carfrae in the Hawaiian Ironman race, Steffen dominated the much shorter Olympic distance to win in a time of 2:01.18. Steffen admitted she had many critics telling her she should not contest the Noosa event so soon after the grueling world Ironman race on Oct. 9. But the 32-year-old Steffen's win left her stunned. "I don't know (how it happened)," she said. "I surprised myself. I just enjoyed today. It's not always about the strength in your legs but also in your head. "I had no pressure and nothing to lose. No one knew me and I was just a dark horse, I was just 'the bloody Ironman girl.'." Two-time Olympic swim gold medalist Susie O'Neill of Australia successfully completed her first triathlon, finishing in 2:29:27. Her 20.43 swim over 1.6 kilometers was just two seconds slower than Steffen, but O'Neill needed 50.46 to complete the 10-kilometer run leg. A 40-kilometer cycle was held in between the swim and run legs. — AP