Curtis Mellsop is quickly running out of excuses not to make triathlon his sporting focus once more.
The Victoria University student stole the show at the Tri NZ Suzuki Series Aquathlon Championships at Kinloch on Saturday, winning not only the 20-24 age group at the swim-run nationals but posting the fastest time of the day by more than a minute.
Mellsop’s 31:21 effort was a belated birthday present to himself – he turned 22 last Tuesday – and part of a red letter day at Lake Taupo for a Wellington family well known in ironman circles.
Curtis’ mother, Sue, comfortably won the women’s 60-64 title while father Steve snared sliver in the 60-64 age-group.
Like their son, the decorated ironman husband and wife were slick too in the showpiece 1000m swim, 5km run event at the annual Seven Oaks Kinloch Triathlon Festival. Steve was home in 38:01, 90 seconds behind winner Mark Brake, while Sue’s 41:10 was impressively the 15th best time of the day – men and women combined.
Studying for a master’s degree in computer science, Mellsop Jnr dabbled in triathlon when he was younger before specialising the pool.
But with Saturday’s result, not to mention the family swim, bike and run pedigree, surely you’ve got to be tempted to dust the bike off and give triathlon another go?
“I love the Splash and Dashes in Wellington, so the swim-runs. Not much of a cyclist, but I think it’s something I could progress into for sure,” Curtis said.
“I’ve always been a swimmer. I did a bit of triathlon when I was younger, a bit of running and cycling but never really put it all together. I quit [athletics and cycling] for swimming but now I’m slowly getting back into it.”
Talking of comebacks, Mum and Dad did well?
“Yeah, they’ve been to Kona for Ironmans. They love the long-distance stuff and retired a few years back, but they’re getting back into it this season for a bit of fun.”
Do you reckon you might even have an ironman in you one day?
“I don’t know if I’ll last as long as they have, but I think I might do one or two, that’s for sure.
“Today was really good. Yeah, good turnout, very similar to our local splash and dashes, but on a much grander scale. It was nice.”
For the record, Sue Mellsop was the 5th female home behind Caitlin Kirk (37:02), 20-24 winner Sarah Hay (37:25), 20-24 runner-up Lucy Evans (37:59) and 40-44 champion Anna Russell (40:55), Tri NZ’s Community Manager.
Saturday’s racing was a qualifier for the World Triathlon Multisport Championships to be hosted in Pontevedra, Spain in June. Any athlete who finished with 20% of the winner’s time in their age group is eligible for Team NZ selection but must lodge a nomination no later than 14 days after the event. Information on the process can be found here.
The Tri NZ Suzuki Series Aquathlon Junior titles were won by Alec Ball and Neve McKenzie (U19) and Bella Cain-Townley and Filip Martin (U16).
