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Joerie VanSteelant of Belgium and Catriona Morrison of Great Britain have successfully defended their titles at the 2008 ITU Long Distance Duathlon World Champions.  The two duathlon stars played to their strengths to pull away from the competition in decisive wins in both the mens and womens competitions of the run-bike-run event.  The official distances of the 2008 Geel ITU Long Distance Duathlon World Championships are an 18-kilometre run, 74-kilometre bike and 9-kilometre run.

Morrison was the heavy favourite coming into the competition as last years champion and two-time duathlon world championship medalist and did not disappoint, breaking the tape first in a time of 3 hours 44 minutes and 23 seconds.  In second place was Mariska Kramer-Postma of the Netherlands two minutes and 23 seconds back.  Germanys Urlike Shwalbe claimed the bronze in her first long distance duathlon world championships a further one minute and 35 seconds back. 

Canadas Cheryl Murphy and Great Britains Michelle Lee moved to the front of the opening 18-kilometre run putting almost a minute on Morrison and the chasers by first transition.  Out on the 4-lap bike course through the heart of the city their lead would not last long as Morrison and Kramer-Postma quickly gobbled up the two leaders and continued on increasing their lead to over two minutes by the end of the technical and fast course.  From there Morrison pulled her ace out, pulling away from Kramer-Postma on the final 9-kilometre run leg with the days fastest split to capture her third ITU world championship title and sixth world championship medal.  Kramer-Postma managed to hold off a charging Shwalbe for the silver medal.

In the mens event, reigning world champion VanSteelant gave the local crowds something to cheer about as he rode away from the competition for his third long distance duathlon medal in as many years.  Finishing second was another Belgian, Bart Aernouts, four minutes and five seconds back.  Rounding out the podium was Lino Barruncho of Portugal in third, another two minutes and 18 seconds down.

The day belonged to VanSteelant as he led from tape to tape clocking the fastest opening run split and bike spilt by over five minutes leaving him able to soak up the cheers of thousands of Belgian supporters as he crossed the finish line.  VanSteelant managed a torrid pace of almost 43km/hr over the 74-kilometre bike course to leave no doubt that he is currently the man to beat in the world of duathlon.  Aernouts was the next to cross the line for a silver medal in his debut long distance duathlon event. A nice addition to his two silvers from the 2007 and 2006 duathlon world championships.  Despite posting the second fastest final run split of the day, Barruncho was unable to make up the gap to the leaders and finished third.

Hundreds of age groupers also competed in the world championships from more then 20 countries.  Geel, Belgium played host to the MultiSport championship event for the first time after successfully hosting previous duathlon world championships in 2004 and multiple duathlon world series events.

2008 Geel ITU Long Distance Duathlon World Championships Geel, Belgium
Official Results Elite Wom
18km run, 74km bike, 9km run
Gold Catriona Morrison (GBR) 3:44:23
Silver Mariska Kramer-Postma (NED)  3:46:46
Bronze Urlike Shwalbe (GER) 3:48:21
4 Heleen Bij De Vaate (NED) 3:49:35
5 Michelle Lee (GBR) 3:51:29
6 Cheryl Murphy (CAN) 3:51:53
7 Miek Vyncke (BEL) 3:53:14
8 Ana Casares (ESP) 3:55:50
9 Susanne Svendsen (DEN) 3:56:40
10 Isabelle Ferrer (FRA) 3:57:25
For full results click here.

Official Results Elite Men
18km run, 74km bike, 9km run
Gold   Joerie Vansteelant (BEL)  3:15:05
Silver Bart Aernouts (BEL)3:19:10
Bronze Lino Barruncho (POR)3:21:28
4 Anthony Le Duey (FRA)3:22:57
5 Justin Hurd (USA)3:23:21
6 Kris Coddens (BEL) 3:23:34
7 Pascal Schuler (FRA)3:24:00
8 Koen Maris (BEL)3:24:30
9 Oliver Mott (GBR)3:24:43
10 Wim Nieuwkerk (NED) 3:25:24
For full results click here.

Click here for full Age Group results.

Click here for full gallery.