Brendan Sexton, Emma Jackson and Bill Chaffey headline Elwood weekend

Posted in Other News

Triathlon Australia, January 16, 2014: London Olympians Brendan Sextonand Emma Jacksonand four-time ITU World Paratriathlon champion Bill Chaffeywill headline Sunday’s Gatorade Triathlon Series events atMelbourne’sElwoodBeach.

Sexton and Jackson will line up in the OTU Sprint Triathlon Oceania Cup, incorporating the Australian Sprint Championships (750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run).

Chaffey will be among a field ofAustralia’s Elite Paratriathletes creating a slice of history in the first ever ITU World Paratriathlon Event conducted outside the ITU World Paratriathlon Championships.

After an up-and-down 2013 “Wollongong Wizard”Sextonis off and running, chasing form, podium finishes and those all important ITU points to get his international career back on track.

He started the season off well with a third in the recent ITU Oceania Sprint Championships in Kinloch (NZL) behind Kiwi pairRyan SissonsandTony Dodds.

Expect a good showing from a revitalised 2013 ITU London World Championship team member and recent Caloundra Triathlon winnerDan Wilson,Victoria’s ownPeter Kerrand a host of Australians includingRyan Fisher, Jamie Huggett,Joel Tobin-WhiteandJesse Featonbyalong with IrishmanBrian Keane

In the women’s race, London Olympic debutant and former Under 23 world championJackson, has started her season in glowing form, winning the Caloundra Triathlon followed by a stunning win in the Queensland 5000m State Title last weekend and will be going all out to put in a solid showing, despite her heavy training load.

She faces a small but select field includingChile’s two-time Olympian and 2011 ITU World Sprint ChampionBarbara Riveros Diazwho in fact beatJacksonin that event inLausannein 2011.Japan’s two-time Olympian and current ITU World Duathlon ChampionAi Uedawill also present some tough opposition, as will her training partnerJillian Backhouseand Australian-based CanadianEllen Pennock.

Meanwhile,Kelly Ann Perkins,the former champion surf lifesaving competitor and professional Ironwoman, originally from the Sunshine Coast, now a member of the Triathlon Australia National Talent Academy on the Gold Coast will be aiming to transfer her talents to triathlon.

In the Paratriathlon event, all eyes will again focus onAustralia’s four-time ITU World ChampionBill Chaffey (Sitting athletes) from the Gold Coast, who will be among 13 Elite Male Paratriathletes contesting this breakthrough Paratriathlon sprint race.

Chaffey added World title number four inLondonlast year, coming from a seemingly impossible position to haul in the leader in the closing stages.

But he will be joined in the Sitting class by triple Paralympian and two-time Paralympic gold medallist from the track, spina-bifida sufferRichard Colman(Gold in Athens 2004 and London 2012 over 800m) and cyclist Alex Welsh.

Wollongong’s Canberra-based vision impaired athleteJonathon Goerlachis on track to put himself in the frame for Rio with an outstanding performance at the recent Australian and Oceania Championships in Penrith while Albury’sJustin Godfrey(standing class) has also shown his amazing ability to convert his sporting talents to triathlon after losing his leg following complications from a motorbike accident.

In the women’s raceWA’sClaire McLean,Australia’s 2004 Athens Paralympic cycling silver medallist and World Championship medallist has made the transfer to Paratriathlon with flying colours, winning bronze in the (arm impaired) category at the 2012 ITU World Championships in Auckland and her recent impressive victory in the ITU Oceania Championships in Penrith.

Claire’sAthensteam mate and silver and bronze medallist fromBeijing, vision impaired cyclist-turned-triathleteLindy Houhas also captured the imagination of the triathlon world with her inspirational switch.

Joining them will be another WA athlete, Sally Pilbeam (arm impaired) in the Standing category who also shone with an outstanding race in Penrith.

Issued on behalf of Triathlon Australia
Ian Hanson
Hanson Media Group

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