Flooding rains force course change before sun shines on Tri Teams Challenge
Flooding rains force course change before sun shines on Tri Teams Challenge
Wild weather and overnight flooding forced event organisers to re-arrange the course for today’s Teams Relay Challenge on the final day of the Australian Youth Triathlon Championships at Novotel, Twin Waters.
But when it came to racing then the triathlon gods finally shone on the Sunshine Coast to herald a bright new event on the Triathlon Australia calendar.
The Teams Relay saw competitors in the 13-15 and 16-18 years age groups complete an ultra triathlon super sprint of a 200m swim, a 4km bike and a 1.2km run before tagging their teammates.
The wild storm that caused minor flooding on the Coast, forced officials to change the run course to a loop course instead of an out and back course.
“We had only just sat down to dinner on Thursday night after running the individual championships when the storm hit so we had to try and salvage as much of the infrastructure as we could, with marquees and tents flattened,” said Triathlon Australia’s Crag Redman.
“The rain was torrential and when we woke up in the morning we had to hurredly re-arrange the course but at least the sun was shinning when the kids had to race.
“We tell our competitors they have to be prepared for anything but I think it was a case of everything over the last two days.
“But despite the conditions the feed back we have had from the kids, their parents and the coaches has been overwhelming – especially after today’s Relay Teams event – that was a real winner.
“With triathlon such an individual event, to race as a team is so exciting for them and there is no doubt this format, similar to the ITU World Championship format is very popular indeed.”
In the 16-18 years event it was the Coast To Coast team of Charlie Quin (Qld), Australian Junior and Youth Champion Jaz Hedgeland (WA), Jordan Mclennan (QLD) and Brittany Forster (QLD) who fought out a thrilling finish with the Scorpions/Ravens team of Matthew Roberts (QLD) Angus Gibson (QLD) Holly Grice (QLD) Natalea Smith (TAS) with just three seconds separating the top two teams.
The NSW Bullz, led by the Baker boys Matthew and Mitchell and supported by Port Macquarie’s Laura Cook and Elyse Foster were third.
In the younger 13-15 years age group it was Team DATS – Dan Atkins Training Squad - of Wyatt Westmoreland, Brittany Dutton, Lawrence Garufi and Sophie Malowiecki who proved too strong for the Tri Vic combination of Jack Stekelenburg, Corey Rich, Kirsty Deacon, Jessica Cox with Queensland’s Last Minute crew of Kye Wylde, Chris Greene, Holly Turner-Woodall and Aimee Scurr coming in third.
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