Buxton Lecturer's International Triathlon Success
1 September 2010
Diane Lee taking part in the international triathlon
A sports lecturer at Buxton College spent her summer break conquering the mountains of Immenstadt, Germany, shaking off a world-class field to take fourth place in the ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships.
Diane Lee, a Lecturer on the Sports BTEC National Diploma at Buxton College, part of the University of Derby, is celebrating her 4th place position in the 25 to 29 age category and 14th position overall in the international women's competition, which took place on July 31.
The course through the Bavarian mountains is known as one of the toughest triathlon courses in the world, and Diane completed the four kilometre lake swim, 130km uphill cycle and 30km run in a fantastic time of eight hours, 20 minutes and 17 seconds.
Diane competed against a tough Australian, European, American and New Zealand field, and after an incredible swim, came out of the water in first position leaving all the other female athletes in her wake. In the cycle Diane conquered inclines of over 20 percent, staying in the leading group throughout and finishing in an amazing third place. During the run, she initially slipped back to sixth place before finding strength in the last few kilometres, and finished just off the podium in an outstanding fourth position.
Mary Blauciak, Head of the Buxton College of Further Education, said: "Staff and students at the College want to give Diane our congratulations. Her athletic career and dedication to take part, and do so well, in these tough international competitions make her an inspirational teacher for our sports students."
