'Duffy took it to those girls'

WEDNESDAY, MAY 16: Kent Richardson believes Bermuda is in good hands with Flora Duffy representing the island at the 2012 London Games.

Richardson was in San Diego to compete in ITU triathlon and had the opportunity to watch Duffy finish sixth in the elite women’s field.

The performance meant Duffy earned enough points to book her ticket to London.

Earlier in the week she won her first ITU triathlon when she beat the field in Mexico.

He said: “It was so nice to see  Flora race. Duffy just took it to those girls.

“Teresa (Perozzi) was there too. After the race we went around the back to talk with her. Flora was so happy and people in the stands were yelling for her.

“She held her own with those girls. She had a stupid swim, strong bike; and on the run, when she ran past Sarah Haskins, I was like ‘wow’.

“Bermuda is in good shape with Flora.”

Richardson finished sixth in his 50 to 54 age group at the San Diego race and was around 120th of more than 1,000 competitors at the Olympic distance.

Richards said: “These guys on the west coast are super strong. The course was very challenging and it was one of the toughest age group courses I’ve ever raced.

“One of the guys in my age group won a bronze at the ITU age group championships in Beijing. It was a pretty stacked field.

“My time wasn’t fast, but the course was so tough that I was happy with what I did.”