Camden New Journal - by STEVE BARNETT Published: 3 July 2008
Keane takes silver after pool error
THERE was controversy at the Cambridge Junior Triathlon on Sunday when top athlete Alice Keane was robbed of a gold medal. Competing in the girls’ 15/16 age category, Keane finished just 10 seconds behind the winner to clinch a silver medal after completing a gruelling 300m swim, followed by a 6000m bike circuit and a 2400m run in 32 minutes, 45 seconds.
But Keane, from Tufnell Park, would have taken gold had it not been for a mix-up during her opening event.
Athletes are meant to do 12 lengths in a 25m pool, with each lane being guarded by a judge. The judge counts the lengths and is meant to insert a float into the water to signal to the swimmer that they only have two lengths to go.
But Keane failed to receive a marker and ended up swimming an extra 50m before exiting the pool more than 40 seconds behind the leader.