Leading Junior Triathletes Race for the World Champs

New Zealand’s elite young (U19) triathletes will be competing for spots at the Budapest ITU World Championships when they race at the Canberra Tans-Tasman Challenge in Australia this weekend.

The race is the first of two opportunities to qualify with the second and final chance coming at the Wellington round of the Contact Tri Series in March, an event that doubles as the National and Oceania Championships.

Triathletes can book their places in Budapest with a top eight finish in Canberra; provided they meet all other selection criteria and are inside the first three eligible New Zealanders (Tri NZ has three spots only at the World Championships).

If there are still spots open following racing in Canberra this weekend, triathletes can secure their places on the team to Budapest with a similar top eight finish in Wellington, again subject to meeting all other criteria.

Tri NZ Assistant National Coach Stephen Sheldrake is with the 21-strong team in Canberra and is excited by the talent in the group but wary of the heat.

“The swim was only confirmed yesterday, the heat has led to some sort of toxic algae in the water and we only got the go ahead yesterday. They have had to move the course slightly but the heat is going to be massive. Most days here have been mid thirties and getting hotter each day. It can change so quickly but we are at the moment planning for the heat and how best to cope with that before and during racing.

Sheldrake says apart from a couple of the Aussie girls, not much is known about the opposition.

“There is a degree of unknown with the Aussies as many of them are new to us, in particular in the men’s race. There are no real stand out favourites in the there which is exciting for us but also makes it difficult to know who to watch. A number of our guys are swimming fast so should make the lead bunch onto the bike and the course is flat and fast with no hills to speak of.

“Michael Poole and Edward Rawles are in good shape and should race well. Cameron Todd also tuned up with a good win at Stroke and Stride last week but they are all a chance to be honest, with Aaron Barclay from down south and others in the team also good enough to feature if they race well.

“In the women’s Holly Aitken and Ashley Gentle are standouts and will be the ones to watch but we have some form athletes too with Maddy Brunton enjoying a good summer so far and Maddie Dillon ready to race well after her win in the U19 age group race at last year’s World Champs.

Canberra doubles as a selection race for the Youth Olympics in Singapore in 2010, an event that Sheldrake says is even tougher to get on the start line thanks to ITU selection criteria.

“The age group for the Youth Olympics is 17 and 18 so a number of our athletes will not be eligible for this and with fewer places on the line, the pressure will be on even more so to grab spots in Singapore.”

The competition also features a team race with two men and two women combining for a sprint style event, this again is something that has Sheldrake excited.

“There is no selection on this, just a chance to enjoy the experience a team format. It is a short turn around from the individual race, especially for the males but nonetheless with team racing playing a big part in the future of the sport; it will be a great experience for our athletes.”

New Zealand team in Canberra

Athletes marked in yellow are eligible for the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore.

U19 Female

U19 Male

Schedule – Saturday 23^rd January

U19 Women              4.15pm NZT

U19 Men                    5.15pm

Teams                        7.30pm