Australia’s next generation of triathlon talent put their best foot forward at the Gold Coast Super Sprint Race Weekend, despite soggy and blustery conditions hampering racing.

Persisting through the wet conditions, some of Queensland and Australia’s top junior and youth athletes dug deep to provide some great racing in the first round of the 2021 Australian Junior and Youth Triathlon Series. 

Queensland’s Tara Sosinski dominated affairs in the Junior Girls competition, claiming a podium finish in nearly every event across the weekend to secure the overall win. While strong performers Bridget McCormack (QLD) and Chloe Bateup (ACT) rallied hard across the weekend to take home second and third overall, respectively.

Peyton Craig (QLD) made a splash on debut in the Junior Boys event, outperforming his senior counterparts in the run and handicap race to secure himself the overall win in his first Australian Junior Series appearance. Queensland’s Harry King was on his heels all weekend, with King finishing third in both the bike and aquathlon, as well as the fastest Junior Boys transition of the weekend to take home second overall. Aquathlon winner Mitchell Westhuizen rounded out the overall podium in third.

Aspen Anderson (QLD) put together a consistent weekend of racing to take home the overall Youth Girls title. Securing wins in three of the six events and a further second and fourth placing, Anderson sets herself up as a force to be reckoned with for the remainder of the Australian Youth Championships. Fellow Queenslanders Gwen Watson and Chloe Michell pushed Anderson throughout the weekend’s events, with the pair racking up some strong performances themselves to claim second and third on the overall tally, respectively.

Queenslanders Bowen Bamford, Joshua Beal and Daniel Prinsloo put on a show in the Youth Boys event with the trio trading podium positions all weekend. In the end it was Bamford who prevailed as the overall winner after taking out the Aquathlon and Run events, with Beal and Prinsloo in second and third, respectively.

The SSRW also saw 27 rookies take to the field over the weekend, with many experiencing their first taste of super sprint racing. 

The Australian Junior and Youth Triathlon Series continues in the new year, with athletes headed to Canberra for the Jackie Fairweather Memorial Triathlon on January 16-17. 

Triathlon Australia would like to thank Major Events Gold Coast and the Gold Coast Performance Centre for their support of the Super Sprint Race Weekend.

2020 Super Sprint Race Weekend
Full Results

Junior Girls
1st – Tara Sosinski (QLD)
2nd – Bridget McCormack (QLD)
3rd – Chloe Bateup (ACT)

Junior Boys
1st – Peyton Craig (QLD)
2nd – Harry King (QLD)
3rd – Mitchell Westhuizen (NSW)

Youth Girls
1st – Aspen Anderson (QLD)
2nd - Gwen Watson (QLD)
3rd – Chloe Michell (QLD)

Youth Boys
1st – Bowen Bamford (QLD)
2nd – Joshua Beal (QLD)
3rd – Daniel Prinsloo (QLD)