Sharks force Noosa Triathlon to scrap swim as Matt Hauser defends his title

NOOSA, Australia (AP) — Australia’s Matt Hauser defended his Noosa Triathlon title on Sunday after organizers scrapped the swim leg when drones spotted multiple sharks offshore, forcing a last-minute change to the course.

The race began with a 5-kilometer (3.1-mile) run instead of the traditional 1,500-meter ocean swim, marking the first time Australia’s premier triathlon event has dropped the swim since it began in 1983.

Hauser crossed the line in one hour, 39 minutes and 34 seconds, with fellow Paris Olympian Luke Willian second in 1:42:59 and John Reed third.

“You have to keep adapting to situations and changes, and we had to make of it what we could and the crowd got a kick out of it,” Hauser said of the course changes, announced 45 minutes before the start. “It’s Noosa, you have to do the race justice and give it a crack.”

Natalie Van Coevorden won the women’s race in 1:58:11, finishing 15 seconds ahead of Richelle Hill.

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