London Olympic Berths on the Line

For immediate release by Triathlon New Zealand, for further information visit www.triathlon.org.nz

London Olympic Berths on the Line for Countries at Oceania Triathlon Champs

Australia and New Zealand will be vying for guaranteed team spots at the 2012 London Olympic Games when they do battle at the Oceania Triathlon Championships in Tasmania late on Monday New Zealand time.

With the ITU reserving a team (nation) spot for the respective winners of the men’s and women’s elite titles in Devonport on Monday (places are reserved for countries winning Continental Championships in Africa, America, Europe, Asia and Oceania), the racing will be intense between Oceania’s dominant players.

The key though to ensure New Zealand has the maximum three allowable athletes on the start line in London in both men’s and women’s events is to have the third ranked or lower New Zealand triathletes win on Monday.

Tri NZ National Coach Greg Fraine says it is a big opportunity to ease some selection pressure for London.

“Qualifying three spots on the start line (not necessarily specific athletes) can be a complicated process but in simple terms the country that wins the Oceania title books a berth on the start line in London. That is providing the athlete who wins is not also in a ‘qualifying’ position on the ITU Olympic rankings when the cut off is made in April. For example if Andrea Hewitt was to win in Devonport this weekend, that does not help us secure three spots in the women’s race for London as she is already well inside the required ranking to earn a start.

“For us to secure a third spot on the London start line, we can either do it by being in amongst the 8 leading nations in terms of our first three ranked athletes in April, or we can have our third ranked athlete (or lower) win in Devonport on Monday. Clearly we would prefer to secure a spot in London as early as this Monday and then ease the pressure in the chase for ranking points. For both our men and women, if a third or lower ranked athlete wins in Devonport, our top two are sufficiently highly ranked to virtually guarantee us three spots at the Olympics.”

On current Olympic rankings Bevan Docherty and Ryan Sissons are both inside the world’s top 25 but New Zealand’s third and fourth ranked athletes are Kris Gemmell (39) and Clark Ellice (50), both with points to earn if they are to keep New Zealand in the top 8 nations based on their third ranked athlete (New Zealand is currently right on the bubble, ranked 8th).

Similarly in the women’s race for London, Andrea Hewitt and Kate McIlroy are comfortably in the list of qualifiers to book New Zealand spots in London (Hewitt is the only athlete already qualified under Tri NZ criteria). However Debbie Tanner (34) or Nicky Samuels (47) have work to do to ensure New Zealand has three on the start line in London. Like the men, the New Zealand women are also currently ranked 8th of all nations based on their third ranked athlete.

So will team tactics play a part on Monday? Fraine says everyone will have to be aware of what is happening around them.

“We will certainly go into the race on Monday with our athletes well aware of the best possible outcomes for New Zealand. This is not a selection race for individuals so it is not about our athletes racing each other. It is however an important opportunity for us to secure a starting spot for New Zealand in London, we will have to see how the race plays out on Monday and be prepared to react to a number of different scenarios.”

Australia will be in the same position on Monday and will be just as keen to book spots in London so racing is expected to be fierce in both the men’s and women’s races.

New Zealand will also have strong representation in the Junior (U19) and U23 elite races, with New Zealand national titles on the line.

OTU Oceania Triathlon Championships
Monday 12th March
Devonport, Tasmania
12:15pm ITU Junior – Women
1:30pm ITU Junior – Men
3:00pm ELITE & U23 – Women
5:30pm ELITE & U23 – Men
All NZT

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