Will Green and Marie-lyne Dore were all smiles after securing their first BTA National Olympic Distance Triathlon Championships yesterday.

Green, 32, covered the 1.5 kilometre swim, 25-mile bike and 10km run in 2hr 17min 18sec to claim top spot on the podium.

“This is my first win in probably my seventh attempt in the sprint and Olympic distances, so I am very happy about that,” an elated Green told The Royal Gazette.

“It was a tough course and I think it was a pretty well-executed race.

“The water was choppy but I managed to ride out the swim and then there was a bit of headwind going out on the bike and fast coming back.

“There were a lot stronger cyclists out there than me, so I was just trying to get my head down, ride as hard as I could and try to make it up on the run, which is my strength.”

Green trailed the leader, defending champion Alex Waldauer, by more than two minutes before the race took an unexpected twist when the latter retired after completing the bike stage.

“I would have run him down, so I think he got a little bit scared and pulled out on the bike because he didn't want me to chase him on the run,” Green joked.

Waldauer, the defending champion, never intended to do the run because of a scheduling conflict.

“I had a doctor's appointment so that's the only reason why I actually didn't do that final leg, but I thought let’s get out and see what the body can do,” he said.

“I knew coming into the race I was never going to do the run leg so it wasn't necessarily like giving up. It was more like I entered a swim-bike today and I didn't even pack my running shoes because I knew I wasn't going to actually run.”

Geoff Smith finished runner-up to Green, crossing the finish line more than ten minutes behind in 2:27:23.

“I quite enjoyed it,” he said.

“It was a very choppy swim and eight laps on the bike meant it was tough trying to keep count but then the tough one was five laps on the run. It was a good crowd. Everyone was sort of congratulating everyone, so it was very positive and I enjoyed it.”

Matt Thompson took the bronze medal in a time of 2:28:10 to complete the podium finishers.

“It's really nice to be back in Bermuda waters and running with the best in the crowd,” he said.

“It was a really nice national championship. The cream of the cream is here to represent, so it's really nice to be among great camaraderie and wonderful competition.”

Also claiming a maiden title in this year’s event was women’s winner, and reigning sprint distance champion, Dore with a time of 2:19:38.

“I have never raced in Bermuda in Olympic distance before and it was good for me because the swim was tough and I am a good swimmer,” said Dore, who is coached by Waldauer.

“I had a gap on the swim and on the bike but I know Ashley [Couper] is very good on the run. I had a lap and a half on her but it was tough.

"I knew I had the fitness to do good but I didn't expect to do that. I was just going to do a race to keep my fitness and test myself.“

Six-times Bermuda Half-Marathon Derby women’s winner Couper passed rival Karen Smith in the latter stages of the run to finish second among the women’s field in 2:29:42.

“Karen is an absolute legend and I want to be like her,” Couper said.

“Karen is such a strong swimmer that I knew I wasn't going to be anywhere close to her and I think our bikes were passing each other in about the same place.

“I felt pretty good on the bike and then the run was just to try and hang in there.”

Smith, who claimed the bronze medal among the women in 2:49.45, tried her best to stay ahead of Couper, but it ultimately proved beyond her reach.

“I was just trying to keep the pace going but I was faltering a little bit the last two laps,” she said.

“I was watching Ashley every lap because you could see we were passing each other almost at the same time and then the fourth lap she was behind me. She must have really put in a big surge on that lap so kudos to her.

“She’s the champion runner so she knows how to put it down when it counts, and it counts on the run.”