Auckland World Championships Under 23 2012
Having the opportunity this year to be involved in World
Triathlon Series races, I have been surrounded by a new type of elite
competition- striving for what I want for the future. I came into this race
knowing that I was well prepared, experienced and a totally different athlete
to what I was when I started Triathlon this time 2 years ago and even a year
ago at my first World Championships as a junior in Beijing. The least nervous I
have been for a race in a while, I had the mindset that I wanted to put myself
in the race to win but top 5 was an achievable expectation. In the days leading
up, I couldn’t say I felt amazing or I felt flat so I was honestly unsure how
this race would actually go. Our race day could not have been more perfect
weather wise and this gave us the opportunity for fast racing.
The swim was a fresh 14 degree water temperature that was
not that inviting even with my HUUB wetsuit on. I started next to a front pack
swimmer, Claudia Rivas and I knew that would great feet to start next too. My
first 750m was an absolute shocker!! I didn’t know what I was doing, passing
girls that I should be well infront of. Due to this about 6 girls were ahead
and that could be race over if they stayed away. I dove back in for my second
lap and felt about 10 times better. I had rhythm and I felt like I had feel for
the water. I put my head down, leading the chase bunch of us around the second
lap. Running out of the water, the girls up the road had about 45 seconds on
us. This was pretty disappointing as I have confidence in my swim to swim with
the lead girls and training had been going well.
I went into this race knowing that I had to do everything in
my power to win. It was there for me to have and in the end, I just don’t have
the run legs yet to win. Did my race go perfect? Far from it. From what I
thought would be my strength turned into my weakness for the day. I am fairly
happy with my end result knowing my put myself on the start line, fit and ready
to race the best Under 23’s in the world. My run was the best I have run all
year and it was nice to finish the season on a high from something I have been
trying to develop all year. I couldn’t ask for anything better for my first
year in under 23’s and I look forward to the world of opportunities that I have
for my future in the sport. A big congratulations to my two best friends and
training partners, Ashlee on her 7th and Charlotte on her 12th
and another congratulations to Aaron Royle on his win and Ryan 10th.
I would like to thank everyone that has helped me over the
last year from the start of the season to the end. To all the service providers
that surround me from massage, Alex Price and Phil who have made the last few
weeks a lot easier, having the opportunity to have massage at night and after
training. I would like to thank Katie Slattery for her help with Jamie in
working out specific sessions for us to be dominating at Worlds. To everyone
that has helped me out at races over the past year and given me the opportunity
to race this year and step up. Thank you to Michael Flynn and Shaun Stephens
for having confidence in my ability to do this. A big thank you to my Coach
Jamie Turner for helping me with my development from being a junior athlete. I
have faith in him that he knows what he is doing and is always about coach
driven, athlete centred environment. We always work in an elite environment
with him looking out for the best needs of us. Thank you to NSWIS and Triathlon
Australia for the financial help over the year with my overseas travels and
allowing me to develop through this constant support. Nothing is ever possible
without a starting block and I am pretty lucky that my parents gave me a stable
base to build from. I was very exciting for them to make the trip down to
Auckland to see me race and I want to thank them for their constant support in
what I call my day job.
To end my trip in Auckland, if I didn’t have many butterflies in my stomach the day before, I did now, bungy jumping off the Sky Tower in Auckland. I am now looking forward to a break from the world of Triathlon and excited to see what 2013 can bring!! J
Here is the Tricast from the weekend :)
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