NZ team named for ITU World Team Championships

Triathlon New Zealand has today confirmed two teams for the inaugural ITU World Team Triathlon Championships, to be raced at Des Moines, Iowa, USA on June 29th (NZT).

Two teams have been named to race in a super sprint format, with each competitor completing the 750m swim, 7km cycle and 1.8km run before ‘tagging’ the next competitor with the first team across the line taking the honours and a $40,000 USD prize.

The New Zealand teams are:

New Zealand A
Sam Warriner, Andrea Hewitt, Bevan Docherty, Kris Gemmell
New Zealand B
Kate McIlroy, Rebecca Spence, Clark Ellice, Ryan Sissons
Reserve: Martin van Barneveld
Note: Debbie Tanner and Nicky Samuels are not racing in Des Moines so were not considered

The strength and form of the New Zealanders is such that they will be amongst the favourites to take out the gold medal in the first ever mixed team race sanctioned by the ITU. Combined with the rich Hy-Vee ITU Triathlon Elite Cup races the day before, the weekend will offer $1million USD in prize money.

In making the announcement Tri NZ National Coach Greg Fraine said it marked an exciting opportunity for the sport and for New Zealand to once again lead the world.

“The ITU is very keen to include team racing on the Olympic programme so this is a big day for the sport to showcase what I believe will be an even more exciting format of racing.

“Our A team picks itself and boasts 4 athletes capable of winning any race anywhere in the world on their day. Bevan and Andrea have already won on the new World Champs Series this year and Kris has been in wonderful form, albeit he has had bad luck with a crash and illness disrupting his season.

“Sam too has endured more than her share of ill fortune this year and while she has had to withdraw from Washington (World Champs Series) this weekend, we are monitoring her closely and believe she will be ready to compete in Des Moines. In this super sprint format Sam’s competitive spirit will make up for any short fall in training over the past couple of weeks.”

Warriner was injured in a bike accident last week while training in the States and has to withdraw from Washington this weekend but is looking forward to Des Moines.

“It’s been a week since the accident, last week I couldn’t move and struggled to get out of bed. Already though this week I am up and about and moving but while I have made big gains, Washington is just too close for me to return, I would only be at about 60% and that wouldn’t show respect to the other girls, let alone myself.

“I’m really confident I’ll be ready for Des Moines though, I’m improving every day. I’m still struggling with my breathing at the moment but that is to be expected with the impact I received, so yes I am 100% sure I’ll be on the start line in Des Moines.

“I’m looking forward to the team race, which will be so much fun for everyone to watch and I think us Kiwis have a great chance to do well. There will also be other up and coming athletes there on the line when usually it is just me, Debbie Tanner, Andrea Hewitt and Nicky Samuels so it will be nice to have that team atmosphere and there will be many more athletes to cheer on from New Zealand.”

The ITU has made no secret of their desire to have team racing included on the Olympic programme, knowing that it can provide yet more spectacular viewing for audiences’ world wide as well as further opportunity for athletes.

"The team world championships are crucial in ITU's quest to have a team event on the Olympic programme," said ITU Secretary General Loreen Barnett. "Recently the IOC Executive Board approved the mixed relay for the Youth Olympic Games, signifying the IOC's support of the concept. It also represented an important step forward for the team relay's inclusion in future Olympic Games."

The ITU Triathlon Team World Championships will consist of a 4 x mixed relay. Each federation will enter a team consisting of two women and two men. Each member will complete a super sprint triathlon (250m swim, 7km bike and 1.8km run) in succession, with the first team across the line representing the top triathlon nation in the world.

A $70,000 USD prize purse will be available for the top three teams (1st - $40,000, 2nd - $20,000, 3rd - $10,000).