Hoy on Podium at Oceania Junior Triathlon Champs

Hoy on Podium at Oceania Junior Triathlon Champs in Penrith

Auckland’s Dan Hoy (coached by Nathan Richmond) and Palmerston North’s Lizzie Stannard (coach Will O’Connor) were the best of the young New Zealand triathletes at the Oceania Championships in Penrith, Hoy winning bronze and Stannard finishing 4th in racing today.

Conditions were reasonably warm and humid but not as hot as was anticipated, temperatures were in the high 20’s and while challenging, it was much lower than the forecast 37 degrees. Officials brought race times forward to allow for the possibly of the forecast hot weather.

Cam Durno led the coaching team along with Bruce Hunter in working with the Kiwis in Penrith and described a solid day of racing, with many of the New Zealand team experiencing international competition for the first time.

“We raced really well with four girls in the top 17 across the line, Lizzie racing well for 4th, Katherine Badham had the third fastest run to finish a promising 7th. Ainslie was impressive in 11th, given how new to triathlon she is, achieving this on the back of a very strong swim.

“For the boys we had five in the top 18. Dan ran strongly on the last lap coming from about 6th into the bronze medal position. Fynn ran consistently and had one of his best days overall and Tayler was a little off his best today after struggling with a cold during the week. Trent is like his sister Ainslie very new to triathlon, he was second out of the water and rode well in group to eventually finish 17th while Trent Dodds was 18th.

“Trent and Ainslie have swimming backgrounds and have been working with Bruce Hunter to develop their run and bike and have come on really well, having been identified through the National Talent Programme and the Youth Festival we had in Auckland in December 2013 and then selected into the National Talent Squad.

“Today was a great example of making the front pack out of the water and staying with the leaders, draft legal fast racing, on a typical flat and quick ITU style course. Overall it has been a great experience for a talented group of youngsters, all of whom have gained vital international experience.”

Kyle Smith pulled a hamstring on the bike when he and Trent Dodds had almost bridged to the front group which also left Trent in a bit of no-man’s land. Smith’s DNF also meant the NZ 1 Boys team failed to finish in the team category.

Tomorrow is team relay racing, with the number one New Zealand team confirmed as: Lizzie Stannard, Fynn Thompson, Katherine Badham, Dan Hoy

Oceania Junior Triathlon Championships
750m swim, 19.8km bike, 5km run
Elite Junior Men
1 Matthew HAUSER AUS 52:06:1
2 Calvin QUIRK AUS 52:17:0
3 Daniel HOY NZL 52:21:3
Plus NZers
7 Fynn THOMPSON NZL 52:50:4
12 Tayler REID NZL 54:14:4
17 Trent THORPE NZL 54:57:8
18 Trent DODDS NZL 55:00:9
41 Matthew ROETS NZL 57:44:8
45 Henry GAUTREY NZL 58:10:7
46 Thomas TRENGROVE NZL 58:34:6
50 Nicolo OPORTO NZL 1:00:10:7
Kyle Smith NZL DNF

Elite Junior Women
1 Kira HEDGELAND AUS 59:56:7
2 Sophie MALOWIECKI AUS 1:00:25:9
3 Dimi COVENTRY AUS 1:00:54:5
Plus NZers
4 Elizabeth STANNARD NZL 1:01:36:9
7 Katherine BADHAM NZL 1:02:14:3
11 Ainsley THORPE NZL 1:02:55:3
17 Emma DANIELS NZL 1:03:41:7
24 Rose DILLON NZL 1:05:27:1
27 Kaitlyn PRICE NZL 1:06:07:4
34 Estafana FOWLER NZL 1:12:38:3

Team Challenge
Elite Junior Men
1st NEW SOUTH WALES – 61points
2nd WA/SA – 98points
3rd ACT A – 105points
4th VIC/TAS A – 106points
5th NZL 2 – 122points
DNF QLD 1
DNF QLD 2
DNF NZL 1

Elite Junior Women
1st QUEENSLAND 1 – 19points
2nd NEW ZEALAND – 28points
3rd VICTORIA – 42points
4th ACT – 51points
5th NSW – 57points
5th QLD 2 – 65points
6th NZL 2 – 69points

Individual racing takes place on the Saturday with team racing on the Sunday. For further information including schedules, CLICK HERE

Penrith is also hosting the Oceania Paratriathlon Championships at the same venue this weekend. No New Zealanders have made the trip across to compete however.

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