National marathon champion to race

National marathon champion to race with ultimate team at Challenge Wanaka

LAKE WANAKA, New Zealand (December 30, 2010) – New Zealand women’s marathon champion, Shireen Crumpton, will join forces with Youth Olympic triathlon gold medallist, Aaron Barclay, and Challenge Wanaka champion, Richard Ussher, to form the formidable Team Tri Stars in Challenge Wanaka on 15 January.

Ms Crumpton (40) of Dunedin, won her spot in the team during a competition run by Challenge Wanaka to offer a runner the opportunity to compete with two of New Zealand’s top triathletes, together with accommodation at Edgewater in Wanaka.

“I’m really honoured to be chosen as there was a good group of people who wanted to race with Richard and Aaron,” said Ms Crumpton. “I’m so excited and it should be a fun event although I’ll definitely be putting a bit of pressure on myself. I’m guessing Richard will come off the bike in front and I’ll be doing everything to keep them at the front of the field!”

Ms Crumpton has a personal best of 2:37:03 for the marathon which she achieved while representing New Zealand at the World Track and Field Championships in Helsinki in 2005. She has held multiple New Zealand national titles, including the half marathon, marathon, 10,000m and mountain running, the most recent of which was her third national marathon title after winning the Auckland Marathon in 2:45:51 and a new course record in October.

Challenge Wanaka Triathlon Festival runs from 9 to 15 January and is New Zealand’s largest triathlon festival with over 2,000 athletes of all ages and abilities taking part. Challenge Wanaka iron distance triathlon is the flagship event of the week, attracting over 1,200 athletes from 27 nations and is part of the global Challenge Family series. The series features 12 events, including the world’s largest iron distance triathlon, Challenge Roth in Germany. Other races are in Australia, Austria, Denmark, France, Spain, UK as well as New Zealand. For further information, visit www.challenge-wanaka.com .

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