Strong Kiwi team at Oceania Triathlon Championships

This weekend sees a large contingent of mainly young New Zealand Triathletes taking on the best in the region at the Oceania Championships on Australia’s Gold Coast with U23 and U19 athletes having the added incentive of qualifying for the World Championships in September.

An incredible 40 athletes (and more in open age group racing) will line up in the Elite (Open), U23, and Junior (U19) races on the weekend with the pace sure to be fast as the Australians and Kiwis try to earn spots at the 2009 World Championships, scheduled for the same course in September this year. The Elite and U23 races will be combined while the U19’s will race separately.

Leading the way in the men’s U23 race is Ryan Sissons who will be looking to further impress selectors after his brave and perhaps breakthrough performance at the Takapuna round of the Contact Tri Series last weekend, when he tussled with Kris Gemmell and Laurent Vidal for the lead throughout the run before finishing a hugely creditable third.

The Aucklander admits to being in the form of his life.

“I am fitter than I have ever been before and running the fastest I ever have, especially off the bike, so I am looking to perform better than ever, especially in such strong elite company.

“The chance to race some of the elite Aussies like Courtney and Brad is too good a chance to miss, if I can do the same thing as Takapuna, stay with and run with some of the Aussies, I should get a good result.”

He will however be just one of a strong cast of Kiwis, with Clark Ellice (world number 89), Martin van Barneveld (2008 U23 World Championship bronze medalist), Graham O’Grady (World #119) and Tony Dodds (#126) amongst others in the field.

In the women’s races in-form Nicky Samuels (Wanaka) will test herself on the international stage for the first time this year after dominating the early rounds of the Contact Tri Series. Her battle with Aussie Emma Moffat will be the one to watch and is receiving top billing across the Tasman.

Triathlon New Zealand U23 and Junior High Performance Manager Stephen Sheldrake is in Australia to keep an eye on his charges but will follow all Kiwi performances.

“Our main objective is world championships selection for U19 and U23’s on the weekend, this is a designated race for both those age groups as it is on the same course to be used in September. Plus of course there is the honour of the Oceania Championship and the Trans Tasman Trophy up for grabs.”

In the Juniors (U23) there are high hopes for Jos Hoetjes (Canterbury) after his bronze medal at the (U19) Youth Olympics in January, when he finished behind two Australians, both of whom are racing on the weekend.

Teenager Teresa Adam (Auckland) leads a strong Junior Women’s team that also performed well for NZ at the Youth Olympics in Sydney.

Sheldrake says these two have been in great form but this is a chance for others to impress too.

“This is the final chance to qualify for the World Champs and with strong performances from some athletes already this season, it is the final chance for others to impress or for the likes of Jos (Hoetjes, U19) and Teresa (Adam, U19) to again show their class and maybe book their tickets for the Worlds.”

The New Zealanders are expecting anything but an easy ride however, with a quality fields featuring in each event, dominated by the local Australian athletes. This is due largely to the race carrying the name of Luke Harrop, in honour of one of their most promising triathletes who was killed while training in 2002 (see attached notes for background information).

Amongst those on the start-line include:

Emma Moffat Elite women Former World Cup winner and Beijing Olympic bronze medalist

Courtney Atkinson Elite men Former World Cup winner

Brad Kahlefeldt Elite men Former World Cup winner

New Zealand entrants on the Gold Coast

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