‘That’s what makes it cool’ – McCormack defends SLT points

Chis McCormack has defended the points system employed in Super League Triathlon, arguing ‘that’s what makes it cool’.

Eyebrows were raised when Jess Learmonth won the first three races of the 2021 Championship Series in London, Munich and Jersey – but still didn’t claim the overall title.

That went to her great friend and Great Britain team-mate Georgia Taylor-Brown, who finished second in Malibu to pip her to the biggest prize of all. The finale in California carried 20 points for the winner and 18 for second – whereas the first three events had offered 15 and 14.

McCormack though says the system did what it was intended to do – ensure hard racing right up to the very last second.

Points system did its job

Writing in his column on the official Super League Triathlon website, he said: “A lot of people have looked at what happened with Jess Learmonth and asked how you can win three events and not win the Series, but I think that’s what makes the Championship Series really cool.

“The points system means you need to perform because you can’t drop your worst performance and so Georgia Taylor-Brown finishing second in every race proved she was the most consistent racer.

“We had to ensure athletes couldn’t win three races and not turn up for the last race and still win the Series. That wouldn’t be right.

“I like the points system and though I think it can be tweaked a little there should be more points on offer in the final.”

The hectic 2021 schedule – with four races on back-to-back weekends – produced terrific racing despite the gruelling schedule for athletes. That played into the hands of some, but not others.

McCormack on 2021 season

McCormack explained: “A lot has changed and we know we have to make some adjustments to the racing but overall I am really happy with the four races over four weekends.

“It was hard for the athletes to manage their training over a month of racing. You could see the athletes that were hollow and didn’t have that base work under them and Vincent was a victim of that. You could see it a mile off.

“Those athletes that had been able to do the big builds like Alex Yee, Vasco Vilaca and Hayden Widle on the men’s side used that momentum.

“I was stoked to be back and it was great to feel normal again, for the athletes to buy into so much and the events to be so exciting.”