'Battles within the war' at Ishigaki this weekend
Eleven of New Zealand’s elite triathletes will descend on Japan this weekend for round two of the 2007 International Triathlon Union World Cup Season, some with an eye on the podium but others with eyes on each other.
Bevan Docherty, Kris Gemmell, Shane Reed, Sam Warriner, Andrea Hewitt and Debbie Tanner will lead the Kiwi charge for victory but just as much interest will focus on the other Kiwis looking to improve their ITU rankings and chances of Olympic or World Championships qualification later in the season.
The men’s elite race features a race within the race with Ben Pulham, James Elvery and Tony Dodds desperate to earn sufficient points to stay ranked inside the top 6 New Zealanders.
86th ranked overall and 5th New Zealander Ben Pulham is the hare in Ishigaki with a pair of hounds on his tail in the form of James Elvery (126th and 6th Kiwi) and Tony Dodds (153rd and 11th Kiwi). In the absence of Terrenzo Bozzone (133rd), Martin Van Barneveld (140th), Graham O’Grady (142nd) and Sam Walker (148th) all three know they have a golden opportunity to perform in Ishigaki and steal a march on their fellow contenders.
20-year-old Dodds is arguably the form athlete of the three, earning selection following Martin Van Barneveld’s withdrawal and his own impressive showing at the recent Contact Energy National Championship.
James Elvery by contrast has not enjoyed a good start to the season and is in very real danger of missing the U23 team for the World Championships. Triathlon New Zealand High Performance Manager Stephen Farrell says that Elvery may be ready to ‘let the handbrake’ off.
“James was a favourite to qualify for the World Championships U23 team but poor races at the Oceania U23 Championship and then a few weeks back in Wellington at the Contact Energy National Championships when he got caught in a marker buoy have seen him slip off the pace. His best chance of qualifying for the World Championships may now be in the elite field and this weekend is a chance for him to show he can race with the best in the world.â€Â
While Dodds would appear to have one of the U23 berths at the Hamburg World Championship sewn up after being first U23 home in the qualification race in Wellington, Farrell believes that he too is capable of making an impact on the elite field.
“Tony is in great form and illustrated his growing maturity in Wellington when staying with the likes of Docherty and Gemmell for so long (he eventually finished 4th overall). Like James, Tony is capable of a strong showing in elite company and may race with more freedom knowing World Championship selection is virtually in the bank.â€Â
Docherty and Gemmell will renew their recent rivalry and expect once again to be at the sharp end of the race when it matters. Docherty is hoping for a better effort than last year’s 8th place.
“I am looking forward to a week off next week so am keen to enjoy another good race on Sunday. I went out too hard at this event last year and paid a price on the run home. The goals for me are a bit boring I guess - race well, beat Kris (Gemmell) again, beat some Aussies and feed off the atmosphere of thousands of screaming Japanese.â€Â
In the women’s race it is again expected that Warriner, Hewitt and defending champion Debbie Tanner will contend for a podium finish. But further down the field much attention will fall on Carmel Hanley.
The 30 year old Aucklander is on the cusp of World Championship selection but needs to fulfill a top 25 finish at a World Cup race to be eligible for New Zealand team selection in Hamburg later in the year.
Farrell says the criteria are tough for a reason.
“Our sport is hugely competitive globally but also within our own team. That is largely down to setting tough selection criteria that brings out the best in our athletes. Carmel needs to show she can finish amongst the leaders in a World Cup race before she can be selected for the World Championships, this is another opportunity for her to prove she is up to it.â€Â
Bevan Docherty, Kris Gemmell, Shane Reed, Sam Warriner, Andrea Hewitt and Debbie Tanner will lead the Kiwi charge for victory but just as much interest will focus on the other Kiwis looking to improve their ITU rankings and chances of Olympic or World Championships qualification later in the season.
The men’s elite race features a race within the race with Ben Pulham, James Elvery and Tony Dodds desperate to earn sufficient points to stay ranked inside the top 6 New Zealanders.
86th ranked overall and 5th New Zealander Ben Pulham is the hare in Ishigaki with a pair of hounds on his tail in the form of James Elvery (126th and 6th Kiwi) and Tony Dodds (153rd and 11th Kiwi). In the absence of Terrenzo Bozzone (133rd), Martin Van Barneveld (140th), Graham O’Grady (142nd) and Sam Walker (148th) all three know they have a golden opportunity to perform in Ishigaki and steal a march on their fellow contenders.
20-year-old Dodds is arguably the form athlete of the three, earning selection following Martin Van Barneveld’s withdrawal and his own impressive showing at the recent Contact Energy National Championship.
James Elvery by contrast has not enjoyed a good start to the season and is in very real danger of missing the U23 team for the World Championships. Triathlon New Zealand High Performance Manager Stephen Farrell says that Elvery may be ready to ‘let the handbrake’ off.
“James was a favourite to qualify for the World Championships U23 team but poor races at the Oceania U23 Championship and then a few weeks back in Wellington at the Contact Energy National Championships when he got caught in a marker buoy have seen him slip off the pace. His best chance of qualifying for the World Championships may now be in the elite field and this weekend is a chance for him to show he can race with the best in the world.â€Â
While Dodds would appear to have one of the U23 berths at the Hamburg World Championship sewn up after being first U23 home in the qualification race in Wellington, Farrell believes that he too is capable of making an impact on the elite field.
“Tony is in great form and illustrated his growing maturity in Wellington when staying with the likes of Docherty and Gemmell for so long (he eventually finished 4th overall). Like James, Tony is capable of a strong showing in elite company and may race with more freedom knowing World Championship selection is virtually in the bank.â€Â
Docherty and Gemmell will renew their recent rivalry and expect once again to be at the sharp end of the race when it matters. Docherty is hoping for a better effort than last year’s 8th place.
“I am looking forward to a week off next week so am keen to enjoy another good race on Sunday. I went out too hard at this event last year and paid a price on the run home. The goals for me are a bit boring I guess - race well, beat Kris (Gemmell) again, beat some Aussies and feed off the atmosphere of thousands of screaming Japanese.â€Â
In the women’s race it is again expected that Warriner, Hewitt and defending champion Debbie Tanner will contend for a podium finish. But further down the field much attention will fall on Carmel Hanley.
The 30 year old Aucklander is on the cusp of World Championship selection but needs to fulfill a top 25 finish at a World Cup race to be eligible for New Zealand team selection in Hamburg later in the year.
Farrell says the criteria are tough for a reason.
“Our sport is hugely competitive globally but also within our own team. That is largely down to setting tough selection criteria that brings out the best in our athletes. Carmel needs to show she can finish amongst the leaders in a World Cup race before she can be selected for the World Championships, this is another opportunity for her to prove she is up to it.â€Â