Van Coevorden third at IRONMAN 70.3 Western Sydney

Rising NSWIS triathlete Natalie Van Coevorden has finished third at the IRONMAN 70.3 Western Sydney at the Sydney International Regatta Centre at Penrith.

It was just the second time van Coevorden, who trains under Jamie Turner in Wollongong, had competed in a 70.3 event.

Olympic-distance talent van Coevorden exited the 1.9km swim alongside fellow Australian and defending champion Annabel Luxford, over two minutes ahead of the chase pack.

Midway through the bike, Luxford had stretched van Coevorden and worked her way off the front as the likes of six-time IRONMAN 70.3 winner Melanie McQuaid (CAN) and more Australians in Andrea Forrest and Kira Seidel bit into the lead.

Luxford proved to be in another class though, with her strong bike leg sufficient to open a winning break and leaving her to cruise through a 1:26 half marathon for an emphatic victory in 4:08:39 (0:25:26, 2:14:32, 1:26:34).

Van Coevorden (0:25:24, 2:19:13, 1:28:43 = 4:15:28) could not hold off the late charge from Seidel (0:27:27, 2:20:13, 1:24:46 = 4:14:37) who edged her for second on the back of the best of the day.

After a tough day at the office Van Coevorden (pictured above at the Noosa Triathlon) said on her Instagram page that she was ready for a break.

“Lead out of the swim and second off the bike but the last bit of the run was tough in the heat! It’s been a great two months of racing and I am excited to relax before 2017 season starts!”