New world age champion Nathan Breen inspired by “Macca and Crowie”

Triathlon Australia: 16 September, 2016: Budding Cronulla triathlete Nathan Breen grew up idolising Australian triathlon royalty – two of its crown princes in Chis McCormack and Craig Alexander.
 
Cronulla was the birthplace of triathlon in Australia – a breeding ground for some of the sport’s greats – and none better than World Ironman champions “Macca and Crowie.”

And inspired by the best, 19-year-old Breen yesterday took a major step in his own career, winning the 16-19 years ITU World Age Group Sprint Championships in Cozumel, Mexico.
 
He was one of four gold medals won by the strong Australian Age Group contingent who weathered the oppressive hot and humid conditions with the celebrated former professional Jason Metters holding on to add another major victory to his collection in the 45/49 years male division while Marge Mackintosh (35/39 years) and Karen Barrow (40/44 years) added gold in their respective female divisions.
 
Minor medals went to Kevin Wills (silver) 65/69 years; Ken Murley (silver) 70/74 years; Keith Pearce (silver) 80/84 years; Sally Musgrove (silver) 55/59 years; Neale Pugh (bronze) 55/59 years and Jan Billinness (bronze) 65/69 years.
 
But it was Breen, who put his hand up to signal the start of what could well lead to his own professional career.

At 13 Nathan’s parents would take him to the 9:30am school holiday swim sessions at Caringbah pool hosted by the two legends of the sport.
 
“I was told at the time they were world champions so I was pretty impressed with that,” a delighted Breen said after his win.
 
“I used to swim train with them in the holidays; they were so down to earth, reasonable and happy to pass on advice.”
 
Breen was always a strong swimmer and runner and didn’t start to master the bike until he turned 15, when his triathlon career kicked off.
 
But it was the determination to fire up and overcome the disappointment of his performance in yesterday’s 2.5 run; 1km swim and 2.5km run Aquathlon World Championship that spurred Breen on today.
 
“It thought it was really important to get a good hit out before my triathlon –to ensure a good experience in the heat before I backed up today,” said Breen.
 
“But in the end I was very disappointed actually; I thought I would go a lot better but I guess I made up for it today.
 
“Yesterday I tended to focus on the end result but today it was about the little things, the process,  and I think it paid off in the heat.

“Mentally I had a completely different mindset today; I was out there to enjoy it and to focus on those little things and I’d be happy with whatever the outcome was and as it was it was a good outcome.
 
“I had a strong swim, (the swim is usually my strongest) and I came out of the water with a 10 second lead and then on the ride there was a group of four of us who worked well together until about 15 kilometres.
 
“But then the chase pack of 10 riders caught us with five kilometres to go so there was now 15 off the bike (into T2.)
 
“My coach Mick Delamotte told me there were things on the run I had to focus on ‘shoulders relaxed, chin down and forward lean and I was thinking that the whole way through.
 
“I could hear the others breathing behind and I was thinking ‘keep control..keep control.”
 
Breen will be applying for his pro license when he returns to Sydney and he will then enter the under 23 National Series.
 
The five kilometre run saw Breen hold off Mexican  connection and he crossed the line in 58mins 27 seconds – 20 seconds ahead of Arturo Mateos (58.44),  Victor Hugo Berrones (58.49) and Eduard Antoni Castellano (58.49).
 
Breen will take a deserved week off before returning to Sydney University to continue his teaching degree in PE.

“I think its important to have a balance..study gets your mind off training and vice versa,” said Breen.
 
Macca and Crowie would be proud.

Oppressive conditions takes toll on under 23 men   
Meanwhile Australia’s under 23 men had a challenging day in Cozumel's oppressive heat which saw officials delay the start of the race by an hour and a half from 3pm top 4.30pm.
 
Melbourne-based bronze medallist in this event in 2013, Declan Wilson, was the best of the Australians finishing in 10th and was satisfield with his effort, despite the heat, to put himself in the race when he was sitting third and fourth through the first two laps of the run.
 
“I put myself in a position to win the race but just hit the wall,” said Wilson, who was shattered as he staggered off he course, the heat just got to me.
 
Much like Matt Baker who also gave himself a shot, eventually finishing 15th, but another victim of the energy sapping conditons.
 
The only other Australian to finish the course was Victoria’s Marcel Walkington, who suffered cramps through the bike and run but battled on to finish 38th.
 
But the hot conditions claimed Queensland’s Luke Willian who was taken to the medical tent suffering heat exhaustion during the 10km run.

After undergoing treatment for an hour he was allowed to travel back to the Australian team hotel and will make a full recovery.
 
The first casualty came when Queenslander Matt Roberts, the best of he Australians out of the swim, suffered a nasty crash on the first of eight laps on the bike.
 
He suffered abrasions to his back, shoulders and knees and was lucky to escape without any breaks.

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