SHANE HURNDELL Top Hawke's Bay women's multisporter Annika Edmondson is eyeing a Coast to Coast after completing a rare double in Saturday's Infracon Challenge in Dannevirke. Despite spending six hours on her feet as a pool lifeguard the previous day the Napier-based Otago University student won the open women's section of theDannevirke to Akitio Challenge. The 2003 junior women's section winner completed the 55km cycle, 13.5km run and 12km kayak in 3hrs49m31s - 21 minutes faster than her nearest rival. Edmondson, 20, didn't have everything her own way and had to work hard during the cycle leg. After being dropped by the second bunch of 17 cyclists up the main 2km Simmons hill climb at the 20km mark Edmondson fought hard to get back to the group. Once back she road safely conserving her energy for the run and kayak. "That hill climb wasn't easy but I always wanted to be near the front of the field at the finish," said the 2003 national secondary schools multisport champion. Although Edmondson has a tough schedule of studies in Dunedin (she is about to start her third year of physical education and teaching courses) she still fits in 10-15 hours a week training. She cycles with the Otago club and runs for the university club. In November she completed the 160km Lake Taupo Cycling Challenge in 4hrs56m. With her impressive multisporting CV and strong training ethics it's not surprising Edmondson is eyeing South Island's Speight's Coast to Coast. "If not next year it will be the year after," she said. Masterton's Tim Carpenter won the open men's section in 3:35:46. Experienced Hawke's Bay cyclist Marg Radich and Havelock North runner Andrea Williams combined with Palmerston North kayaker Annie McKeagg to win the veteran women's teams section in 3:39:26. There was considerable interest in the form of top Hawke's Bay men's multisporter George Christison who was competing for the first time in six months after recovering from a series of health problems. He was in a Bay trio with kayaker Kent Wilson and cyclist Tony Loversuch which finished third behind two Palmerston North teams. Hawke's Bay's Cam Drury and Charlotte Nicholson were second in the mixed teams section with a time of 3:24:35. The annual challenge attracted 240 competitors.
