Five years after falling just seven seconds short of victory in the iconic long course, a dominant and thoroughly professional performance from Newport SLSC’s Jemma Smith has helped her to claim her maiden Coolangatta Gold title.
There was a matter of metres between Smith and eventual champion, Lana Rogers in 2019, after Rogers successfully came from behind to pass the NSW athlete on the final run leg.
A highly focussed Smith never looked like having history repeat this time around, powering ahead in the opening ski leg and never looking back as she worked her way to a comfortable and composed title on Sunday 13 October.
In commentary for the event, 2014 Coolangatta Gold champion, Josh Minogue said she is the first NSW-trained athlete to win the legendary race.
“That’s incredible, to be able to finish that, see that [finish] banner and be able to take it,” Jemma said.
“I just tried to keep focusing on me. I knew that if I got too caught up with where everyone was, that’s when you start to lose focus. I just really pushed the pace as much as I could.
“I think in 2019 it was so unknown for me. I’d never done it before, and it was such a competitive field.
“To be right up the top of that field, right up until literally the last couple of metres was something I was really proud of, but it definitely lit the fire in me to come back one day.”
On the men’s side of the draw, Newport’s Jackson Borg put together a fantastic race to finish in third place while former Warilla Barrack Point SLSC athlete and surf sports legend, Ali Day claimed his 10th title from 10 starts with a remarkable sub-four hour effort across the 41.8km course.
His run to the finish line included embracing family and friends along the esplanade and even carrying his kids for a stretch, and Day later confirmed this would be his last Coolangatta Gold.
“Ali has been such a source of inspiration for me, not only the athletic feats that he’s been able to set the bar so high. But the incredible person that he is and a role model. That’s something that I really try to emulate and take a lot away from,” Jemma said.
“To be able to stand atop of the podium today, with Ali getting his tenth, is just insane. It’s so special to be able to do this alongside an amazing human being.”
“I dreamt of this moment when I got to nine, and I think that’s my best one yet to be honest. I don’t think it will ever fully sink in,” Day said.
“I hope there’s a kid out there now watching me that can walk away and say they are going to do the race next year. But that definitely won’t be me, 10 and done.”
The Coolangatta Gold celebrated 40 years in 2024 and encompassed two days of racing across the long and short courses, for more than 1,000 elite, open, masters and youth competitors.
Monday 14 October 2024
