Catriona Morrsion has become the World long-distance Duathlon champion for the second successive year by winning at the weekend in Geel, Belgium, retaining the title she won last September in the USA.

Just three months after major surgery on her knee, Morrison completed the most astonishing of comebacks in a race she would have been happy just to finish, let alone win.  Morrison had only just recommenced competitive racing a few weeks earlier.

After a steady, if unspectacular start, Morrison found herself close to the leading pack after the first third of the 18km start, coming into the bike transition in 4th place.

In a leg of the event in which she is rarely bettered, Morrison upped the stakes and took the lead on her wheels, though she was eventually overtaken by Holland’s Mariska Kramer, who led by 20 seconds going into the T2.

Morrison struggled to get going in the final running leg, but eventually overtook her Dutch rival to coast unchallenged to the finishing line.

“It was a major surprise and a major bonus,” said Morrison, of Broxburn.  “Coming across the line I have to say that I was more proud of my performance this year given my surgery in April.

“I have also gained a lot more confidence for the races still to come this season.”