Even field for opening Contact Tri Series Race

Kiwi triathlete Keegan Williams will go into Sunday’s season opening Contact Tri Series race with good form under his belt after a runner up finish at the recent Karapiro Half Ironman, form that will likely see him start as one of the favourites at The Blue Lake in Rotorua.

While the distance might be shorter than the 29 is used to, the Waikato athlete will be well served by the training put in for Karapiro and the good form he showed in that event, finishing second to Scott Thorne.

Williams races out of the TBB team and is one of 30 athletes from 15 different countries on their books. Their philosophy and background can be found at www.teamtbb.com

Other athletes likely to contend on Sunday around the picturesque Blue Lake will be well travelled triathlete Dylan McNeice, a renowned swimmer who will be the one to watch coming out of the water. McNeice has tuned up with some good performances in the Stroke and Stride Series in Auckland already this Spring.

Teenager Michael Poole is another who might be ready to challenge the senior athletes, the Auckland Grammar Student has been one of the stand out triathletes at school age for a couple of years now and will enjoy the testing bike course around The Blue Lake. National Schools champion Poole is a renowned young cyclist and will be tempted to use the bike leg to put some distance on the field if he can.

In the women’s race the podium looks to be up for grabs with no one standing out from an even field. 19 year old Maddie Brunton (Waikato) and 20 year old Simone Ackerman (Whangarei) shape as the early favourites but with late entries open until race day, there could yet be a surprise contender on the start line.

Former world number one Sam Warriner will be there on race day, but only to support all the triathletes, including the age groupers taking part in the Contact 3:9:3 event. Warriner will assist with race commentary and offer advice to beginner triathletes, while also keeping an eye on the up and coming elites such as Brunton and Ackerman.

Contact Tri Series
Rotorua, Blue Lake
Sunday 22nd November

Start Times:
3:9:3
Men 8:00am
Women 8:05am
Teams 8:10am
Contact Trophy
Men 9:30am
Women 9:35am
Teams 9:40am
1:2:1
Boys and Girls 1pm
Participants in the 1:2:1 must be at least 6 years of age on race day and no older than 11