QUEENSLAND PAIR TURN UP THE HEAT IN PERFECT YOUTH OLYMPIC TRIAL

Posted in Other News

Triathlon, January 14, 2013: Queenslanders Luke Willian and Jodie Duff reveled in the “Sunshine State” conditions to win race two of the Scody Australian Junior Triathlon Series in heat wave conditions at Penrith today.

The Brisbane-based teenagers dominated their respective fields in the 30 degree plus sweatbox atmosphere at the Sydney International Regatta Centre over the 750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run course.

It was a perfect trial hosted by Triathlon Australia and Triathlon NSW in what was also the official Test Event for next week’s Australian Youth Olympic Festival (AYOF).

The pair will join six other fellow triathletes in an eight-strong Australian team selected for the AYOF who will take on a world class field, including two world junior champions in Mikayla Nielsen (New Zealand) and Fumika Matsumoto (Japan) in the women’s field.

The women’s race saw race one Super Sprint winner Duff race away from the field on the final lap to beat fellow Australian AYOF team member Jaz Hedgeland (WA) and Sumire Ohara (Japan) with Kirsty Deacon (Victoria) fourth ahead of AYOF representative Anna Coldham fifth, Brittany Forster (QLD) sixth and the final AYOF team member Holly Grice (QLD) seventh.

“This is the first time I’ve raced over this course and it was ideal to come into Sydney and have a hit out before next week,” said Duff, who has battled a hip injury and glandular fever over the past 12 months.

“We have had an ideal preparation leading in following the Super Sprint weekend at Runnaway Bay, the National Development Camp, a squad camp on the Sunshine Coast and the last few days with the AYOF team in Wollongong.

“It was hot but we are certainly used to these conditions in Brisbane and it is it like this next week I’ll be happy.”

Duff, a three-time National Schools Triathlon Champion, has spent almost 12 months on the sideline after suffering a hip injury before contacting glandular fever late last year, said she was looking for a podium finish at next week’s AYOF race in her first ever international event.

Hedgeland, the reigning Australian Junior Champion, who was named on the AYOF team as a discretionary selection, showed the benefit of another three weeks of training with a spirited second place finish.

The Western Australian took the back end of last year off to concentrate on her final year 12 exams and will be right in the mix next week.

Meanwhile Willian also reveled in the hot conditions and ran away from a 60 strong field with the first five all set to clash again in the AYOF.

The 16-year-old Brisbane-based schoolboy from Warialda in NSW outran Norway’s Kristian Blummenfelt and boom Tasmanian Jacob Birtwhistle.

“The hotter it is the better I like it,” said Willian.

“We have trained in 37 degree heat so today was something I was used to and I will be hoping for similar conditions next week.

“It was certainly a good hit out and good to get used to the course and know what to expect in the AYOF race.”

Willian, Birtwhistle and Blummenfelt were together on the bell lap in the run when the young Brisbane boy made a charge on the run home.

Birtwhistle, who dominated the Super Sprint weekend at Runaway Bay, admitted he did not push himself on the final run after picking up a cold in the Wollongong team camp yesterday.

“I certainly felt the heat and I didn’t push it on the final lap; all I wanted to do was hold my position,” said Birtwhistle, who has been chosen by the Australian Olympic Committee as a torch bearer for next week’s AYOF Opening Ceremony.

In what was an encouraging sign the other two members of the AYOF team Christian Wilson (QLD) and Matt Baker (NSW) finished fourth and fifth respectively.

In the first ever ITU Youth Events for 13-15 year olds, Super Sprint Race Weekend winner from Runnaway Bay, Matt Hauser (QLD) backed up to win the boys race from Michael McGuire (VIC) and Jess Whittaker (NSW).

While in the girls race Bracken Ridge youngster Jessica Corliss took the honours from Jessica Hoskin (QLD) with Kira Hedgeland (WA) third.

Issued on behalf of Triathlon Australia.