T100 Novice 'Over The Moon' Over Win

Waugh, the lowest ranked at world No. 339, came with no expectations after a poor 2024

- Melvyn Teoh

Not many would have placed their bets on debutante Kate Waugh to win the T100 elite women's pro race in Singapore on April 5.

The Briton had arrived at the Marina Bay course as the lowest ranked among the 19-strong field, who included Olympic silver medallist Julie Derron and two-time Singapore defending champion Ashleigh Gentle.

On April 5, the world No. 339 triathlete – who had participated only in short-course and Olympic-distance triathlons before doing the T100 – surprised everyone, including herself, by clinching the best result of her career.

She crossed the finishing line in 3hr 45min 18sec, beating pre-race favourites Derron and Gentle – they were 12th and sixth respectively – to claim the winner's cheque of US$25,000 (S$33,600).

Austrian wildcard Lisa Perterer (3:51:58) and Briton Lucy Charles-Barclay (3:53:09) finished second and third respectively.

Waugh, who was in tears at the finish, said: "I'm over the moon and I've got goosebumps right now. It was just an incredible, incredible day – just one of those where everything just seemed to go right and I'm absolutely buzzing."