Kiwi Women in the limelight at Triathlon World Championship opener
The International Triathlon Union this weekend launches the Dextro Energy World Championship Series with the historic first event set for Tonyeong in South Korea and New Zealand will be to the forefront of the action.
Sam Warriner, Andrea Hewitt, Debbie Tanner and Nicky Samuels have all earned starts in the $150,000 USD race, the first in a race series that will decide overall rankings for the season and divide a cash bonus pool of $500,000 USD at season’s end.
The series is part of an initiative from the ITU to take the sport to a wider global audience through more competitive racing, live television and a bigger prize pool, all of which should result in close and exciting action throughout the World Championship season.
Nicky Samuels will race after finishing 8th in last weekend’s World Cup race in Japan, where a slow run cost her any chance of a podium. The Wanaka athlete is anticipating a high quality event on Sunday.
“This year will be somewhat different to previous years; the best will race against the best in most if not all of these World Series races. This is all the more different to last year when Beijing was the one focus, the only race that mattered; now everyone must perform consistently throughout the year.
“Apparently thanks to my consistent start to the year I am currently ranked 1st in the world ITU rankings, but with the World Championship Series being loaded with points I will really have my work cut out for me to keep up ranked in the top echelon.
“I look forward to heading to Korea to race and it will be a good measure of where the Kiwi's stand in the world this weekend. It will show us what we have neglected over the summer and show us where to go from here prior to the next international competition. Exciting!”
Debbie Tanner and Andrea Hewitt have been slightly less active on the racing front but will both line up in Korea. Tanner is looking forward to a wider audience being exposed to the sport.
“I am excited about the first world champs series race in Korea this weekend,” said the Auckland athlete. “The series is offering an opportunity for us as professional athletes to show off to the world how great our sport is and what we have to offer.
“The last couple of weeks I have been getting through some great training so am looking forward to putting that to good use!”
Hewitt is ready for a contest on Sunday.
“This weekend will be my first big race of the season. I am coming from a summer of training at home in Christchurch and am ready to race well alongside a very strong line up of women. I believe tactics will play a major role on Saturday because Tongyeong is the first round of the World Championship series, so everyone will be in good shape and will be roaring to race.”
Whangarei’s Sam Warriner has been overseas for some time already this campaign, choosing to race in a number of longer 70.3 (half Ironman) events before focusing on the World Championship Series. Warriner will turn out as the 2008 ITU World number one ranked athlete but knows the season and ranking points start from scratch, beginning for her this Saturday.
Dextro Energy ITU World Championship Series
Tongyeong, South Korea
Elite Women
Saturday 2nd May
5.10pm NZT
Elite Men
Sunday 3rd May
5.10pm NZT
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