Aussie triathletes ready to take on the world

Posted in Other News

Triathlon, December 18, 2012: With the likes of Australia’s Emma Snowsill and Emma Jackson having won medals at the Australian Youth Olympic Festival, a spot on the Aussie triathlon team for next year’s event has been a hot ticket.

The Australian junior triathlon series held over the weekend on the Gold Coast decided the eight-strong team to compete in Sydney as part of the Olympic style event next January.

Rising star Jacob Birtwhistle was the stand-out performer of the meet, producing a stunning performance to wrap up the 2012 Super Sprint crown with 206.5 points – almost 80 points ahead of his nearest rival. The win was all the more impressive due to Birtwhistle’s comeback from a broken collarbone.

“Last year was the most frustrating year of my life; even after I recovered from the injury, I wasn’t happy with any of my races,” said the 17-year-old Tasmanian.

“But this weekend has more than made up for the disappointment of last year and the last 12 months. I was particularly pleased to improve my transitions every time I raced.”

Birtwhistle, a champion track runner-turned triathlete, claimed five victories from his seven starts in an eclectic array of events, culminating in winning Sunday’s Super Sprint Grand Final.

It suited Birtwhistle down to the ground. He was very much in touch after the swim, knowing he had to stay in touch on the bike which he did in style before hitting the second transition in the first pack of 10.

But by the end of the long transition Birtwhistle was well and truly in second place on the run behind Luke Willian and in front by the end of the first of the six run laps.

He then proceeded to give spectators a graceful display of running that saw all eyes on the track focused on a young athlete who has been the centre of a tug-o-war between athletics and triathlon.

Just last week Birtwhistle ran his second personal best on the track clocking 8 mins 9 secs (previous PB 8:22) to run third in the 3000m at the Zatopek Meet for Under 20s.

Aiming for a medal at the Rio 2016 Olympics, he knows if he’s going to one day match it with the best then he has to be the complete package.

“For the moment I am training full time for triathlon but I am also keeping my running going as well; I know that if I’m going to beat the Brownlees on day then I’m going to have to run like a runner,” said Birtwhistle of his heroes Alistair and Jonathon. Jonathon won bronze in London and was the gold medallist at the 2009 AYOF.

“To make the AYOF team is an honour for all the reasons and I can’t wait to represent Australia against the other countries - I am really looking forward to it.

Birtwhistle will be joined on the AYOF team by Matt Baker, Christian Wilson and Luke Willian.

With Australia’s women dominating world triathlon, the four girls selected for the AYOF have a strong future ahead of them. The team comprises Queensland training partners Jodie Duff, Brittany Dutton and Holly Grice as well as West Australian Jaz Hedgeland.

Like Birtwhistle, Duff comes from a running background. The 18-year-old Queenslander suffered back-to-back injury and illness in 2011 that left her at a crossroads in her career.

A phone call from Sydney 2000 Olympian Craig Walton one of the legends of triathlon in Australia and now a two-time Olympic coach, quickly put her career back on track.

Prompted by her coach, Dan Atkins (DAT Racing) in Brisbane, Walton gave Duff some timely words of advice and before long she was back training in one of the best young squads in Australian triathlon.

“Dan suggested I give Jodie a call and give her some words of encouragement. I told her to believe in herself and that she was in the best possible hands with Dan,” said Walton, who was trackside watching Duff crowned ITU Junior Super Sprint Race Weekend Champion at Runaway Bay on Sunday.

“She is a very talented young lady, who has come from a strong running background and 12 months ago had been recovering from illness and injury and didn’t really know what to do.

“But she has spent the last 12 months with her head down and under Dan’s watchful eye and all that hard work has paid off – I think she’s ready to shine over the next two years.

“It was great to see her race so well over the weekend.”

The Australian triathlon team for the 2013 Australian Youth Olympic Festival:

MEN
Matt Baker	Age 18	NSW	Post Code 2251
Jacob Birthwhistle	Age 17	TAS	Post Code 7250
Luke Willian	Age 16	QLD	Post Code 4171
Christian Wilson	Age 16	QLD	Post Code 4655
Women
Jodie Duff	Age 18	QLD	Post Code 4074
Brittany Dutton	Age 15	QLD	Post Code 4035
Holly Grice	Age 18	QLD	Post Code 4020
Jaz Hedgeland	Age 17	WA	Post Code 6155

Officials
Team Leader – Craig Redman TAS
Team Assistant – Emma Whitelaw QLD
AYOF Women’s Coach – Dan Atkins QLD
AYOF Men’s Coach – Keiran Barry NSW

For more information please contact:

Ian Hanson
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Phone: +61 7 5522 5556 | Mobile 0407 385 160
or

Alice Wheeler
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Phone: +61 2 9336 0211 | Mobile 0418 961 184

Issued on behalf of Triathlon Australia.