Josh Stapley makes first professional start at Huskisson Triathlon Festival

Little did Stapley know at the time that 11 years later he would be lining up in the same category as the three-time Ironman world champion during the 2019 Huskisson Triathlon Festival's half Ironman event.

Stapley made his first start in the elite category during Sunday's race and for the opening two legs he was matching it with big international names.

While his run didn't pan out the way he wanted, sending him just outside of the elite category's top 10, Stapley took plenty away from his experience at the top level.

Alexander would go on to be victorious over the 1.9 kilometre swim, 90km bike ride and 21.1km run in a time of three hours, 55 minutes and 38 seconds. 

Levi Maxwell (3:57:37) beat home Mitchell Cunningham (3:57:49) in the sprint for silver.

A top 10 elite finish was looking likely for Stapley until cramp struck on the run. He came home 30^th overall in 4:41:21.

Stapley said receiving support from a man of Alexander's calibre is the best motivation he could ask for.

"It's absolutely awesome to race alongside those guys. Having a chat to 'Crowie' [Alexander] in the lead up and talking to him afterwards was great and he was cheering me on during the run when I was struggling a bit.

"It's awesome to have that from such an absolute legend of the sport. He's been a pro for 25 years - longer than I've been alive - and I'm there on the start line with him.

"There's a photo of me with him at my first major triathlon event at Nepean so to line up with him was a really special moment."

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Stapley emerged from the water in 11^th and continued to stick with the chase group through the opening portion of the bike leg.

The high pace took a toll on the Bathurst competitior during the run leg where he pace drifted over the 5:00 minutes per kilometre mark across the closing 10km.

"I led the main chase group out of the water with the likes of Joe Skipper, who's the UK Ironman champion last year, and Matty Lewis who was wearing the number one. Leading them out of the water was awesome and I biked with them for a bit as well," Stapley said.

"Unfortunately, with three weeks off running because of injury and pushing hard on the bike to stay with that group, ruined my legs a bit and I cramped during the entire run.

"It's disappointing that I had to shuffle through the run and miss a chance at a top 10 overall but you've got to take it as experience. Racing against the best in the world and feature for the first two legs of it was really great."

The unfortunate end to the race hasn't dampened Stapley's spirit - it's only encouraged him to work harder towards upcoming events.

He hasn't settled on a path ahead but there's plenty of choice.

"I think Cairns 70.3 is on the cards as the next one or there could be the chance to do one in Asia during our winter," he said.

"If not then it would be Sunshine Coast after that but I'll dabble in a couple of local events over the next month or two. Hopefully I'll line up for the NSW Club Championships in Orange and have a crack in the B2B.

"There's an Olympic distance race coming up in Wollongong this April which I always enjoy doing."