97 World Championships, Perth

Aussie Talent and Pride Out Races the World
Perth, Australia, taught the race directors of the world how to run a world-class event November 16, 1997. The Australian athletes taught the world how to race. The Australians--inspired by national pride, a history of competition, and the emotion of Sidney 2000--dinged the armor of American age-group dominance and toasted the pros with more intensity than Perth's brilliant sun. The Aussie age groups set the tone on race day, feeding off the enthusiastic cheers of the home-country crowd. Green and yellow race suits proceeded to devour the field and punctuate Australia's reputation for toughness. A perfect day, a perfect race venue and racing perfection were conspiring to put Perth on the map. As the last of the age groupers made their way out of the run transition, Emma Carney, Jackie Gallagher and Michellie Jones geared up for an Australian pro-women sweep to the podium.
Carney pulls through the bike then runs away After pulling much of the field through the bike, Carney was determined to leave no doubt about her number one standing. As the lead group of runners left the transition, Carney proceeded to anchor a three-woman Australian pace line on the run that kept Gallagher and Jones spinning to stay in touch. Jones, her Reeboks crimson with blood from lacerated feet injured during the run transition, fell off the pace and Gallagher, although strong to the finish, was no match for Carney's determined speed and her 0:32:53 run split. Carney finished in 1:59:22, 14 seconds ahead of Gallagher. All that remained for a perfect Australian afternoon was the men's results. McCormack too strong for Carter and Lessing New Zealand's Hamish Carter and Britain's Simon Lessing managed to prevent the Aussie machine from total domination of the pro ranks by finishing 2nd and 3rd to Chris McCormack. Only 10 seconds apart out of the water, the ITU's draft-legal bike kept the top five finishers together in front of the chase pack--leaving the outcome of the race to be determined on foot. Lessing, tagged during the final transition for a loose helmet strap, would think about the 20 second price well after the run was over. A wired McCormack set the pace for the run then pumped through the final kilometer, leaving Carter and Lessing behind and battling in tandem for second place. McCormack's 29:32 run brought him back to the Esplanade Park finish line in 1:48:29, 12 seconds ahead of Carter and 37 before Lessing. Top American pros Barb Lindquist and Jennifer Gutierrez were second and third after the bike, but neither had the legs to keep pace with the Australians. Gutierrez ultimately claimed the top American spot in 2:03:14--good for 13th--four seconds ahead of Lindquist. Jill Newman crossed the line 20 seconds later. Alec Rukosuev was the top American man at 1:52:19, good for 25th. Wes Hobson and Marcel Vifian finished 30th and 37th.AG		Chris McCormick raced with animal intensity and national pride in his Championship quest. Chris McCormack eyes Hamish Carter down St. Georges Terrace in downtown Perth. Michellie Jones put up a brave fight, but lacerated feet and a powerful Carney left her third.
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