Turner signs off with Super League sizzler

Turner signs off with Super League sizzler

The Islander pushed to 16th place in Sunday’s Enduro, surviving one rotation after dropping out of the Eliminator on the first day – collapsing during the first run after impressive swim and bike legs.

Temperatures surpassed 30 decrees Celcius on both days of the SLT series finale and the water temperature during the swim legs offered no respite, at 28 degrees.

‘I really struggled with the heat’, said Turner.

‘I had a good swim and bike, but as soon as I hit the run it was like somebody had flipped a switch, my body just rejected it.

‘It was frustrating as I was on target for a good race. I had just changed coach and I had a point to prove, so it was a big blow.’

The Eliminator discipline runs three triathlons back to back with a break in between, with the top 15 and ten progressing to stages two and three respectively. The Enduro features three swim-bike-runs continuously with no break, with the two slowest athletes cut after each discipline.

‘I had an awful first swim in the Enduro,’ said Turner. ‘I went in to it with the wrong attitude, thinking I am good at the swim so I don’t need to push it to make it – I was literally a metre ahead of the guy that got cut, so that was a bit of a wake-up call.

‘On the bike I did well and rode my way out of elimination and made up a few places, but that meant on the run I had to ease off.

‘In the end I finished 16th, which is my best finish in a Super League race and I think I moved up a place in the rankings.

‘Day two was a step in the right direction, and I have definitely improved since my last race. I was extremely pleased with my performance after Saturday, and I think if you take away that blip the weekend was a success.’

Turner is now plotting a path back onto the Super League roster for 2019/20 and will travel to Bali for one of the franchise’s qualifying events on 23-24 March.

Full report in Thursday’s JEP.

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