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AN inability to change gears throughout the cycle leg of a long-haul half Ironman race would seem a good enough reason to throw in the towel.
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But for local lad Liam Magennis having his shifter break at the start of the race was nothing more than a small spanner in the works.
The 16-year-old competed as part of the Port Macquarie Good Guys, the first local team and second team overall, to finish the Ironman Australia Port Macquarie 70.3.
The boys gave it their all on race day to come in second at just over 4 hours and 18 minutes.
Their jaw-dropping performance all the more impressive considering two of the athletes are just 16-years of age.
The trio, hailing from Port Macquarie Triathlon Club, were thrown together at the start of the year. Joining Magennis was wonder-boy swimmer Sam Lewis,16, and avid runner and experienced triathlete 37-year-old Tony Green.
"I'm pretty much stuffed after all that," Magennis admitted after the race. "I guess my shifter breaking just made me go a whole lot harder."
The three locals said they were simply in it for the sake of a challenge.
"But it does feel good to win," Lewis said.
Hot on their heels were local team the Has Beens, who came in exactly two minutes and two seconds behind the Good Guys.
In the mixed groups Contrast came in shortly after at 4 hours, 21 minutes and 30 seconds.
