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West Australian Sean Oneill wins the first race of the 2009 – 2010 Anaconda Adventure Race International Series

Rapid Ascent Media Release / 29.09.2009

Although he emerged from the 13km ocean and river paddle at Palm Beach 14 minutes behind the leader, he managed to swim his way into eighth place in the 1.9km river and ocean swim, and powered into third place in the 12.5km Keen Footwear Adventure Run.<br />
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Then 16km into the 18km Tanita mountain bike challenge in the hills of the Gold Coast hinterland, O'Neill edged his way into first place, and was relieved he could take the final 2km run at a gentler pace to claim line honours.<br />
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Ultimately O'Neill, 26, competed the course in 4hrs 4min 47seconds, ahead of Noosa's Glenn Kirby on 4hrs 6min 1 sec.<br />
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"I'm stoked to have won the race, but it was tough, that's for sure," said O'Neill, who has claimed WA's triathlete of the year crown five times.<br />
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"During the paddle I had debris caught on the rudder, which was really hard work, and it felt like I was going backwards.<br />
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"Someone told me I was eight or nine minutes behind the lead at the end of the paddle, but I was 14 minutes behind. It's just as well I didn't know because I probably would have given up."<br />

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