The final Continental Cup of 2023 took place at the weekend with the African Cup in Kilifi, Kenya. Amid small fields, with seventeen men and twelve women starting, the race saw healthy representation from the home team, offering hope for the long-term growth of triathlon in new regions.
Both race winners from the 2022 iteration of the race, Stefan Zachaeus and Tanja Stroschneider, were present and gunning for another gold medal.
Over the Sprint distance affair, though, both would ultimately be denied this time as new winners stepped up to the plate.
Men’s race
The African Cup in Kilifi fell at a strange point in time in which some of the field were powering down into their off-season while others had already enjoyed their off-season and were using the race as a means to kick-start 2024.
Through the flux, Jasper Ortfeld of Germany held his nerve and claimed a maiden international victory. In his first year out of the Junior ranks, Ortfeld out-duelled Leon Pauger of Austria in the final 5km run to take the gold medal.
Jean Gael Laurent L`entete and Seifeddine Selmi, two leading candidates in the men’s African Olympic New Flag race, had been in touch with the leaders early on, creating early hope of an African success at the race. However, they gradually fell back, as did Zachaeus. In their place, Mohaned Elshafei of Egypt was best placed to challenge Ortfeld and Pauger.
Orfteld would not be stopped and ran to victory by 18 seconds. With a late effort, Pauger took 2nd place and relegated Elshafei to the bronze medal by 7 seconds.
Women’s race
Having won a World Cup medal in Weihai earlier in the year, Lisa Perterer had shown that the injury problems that had dogged the early part of her season were receding into the past. With another strong display, she denied Stroschneider a return win as she took her own comprehensive victory.
The Austrian pair were a cut above their rivals, particularly on the bike. Throughout the 20km course, they built up a substantial lead, putting their nearest chasers 2 minutes behind.
Then, on the run, Perterer ran clear to win by 1 minute 16 seconds. Stroschneider could be satisfied with a silver medal, Austria’s third medal of the event, while Antoanela Manac of Romania ran to the bronze medal.
You can view the full results here.
