WORLD CLASS: Tauranga triathlete Anneke Jenkins won the elite women's Aquathlon world championship title in Edmonton.PHOTO/DELLY CARR@ITU
WORLD CLASS: Tauranga triathlete Anneke Jenkins won the elite women's Aquathlon world championship title in Edmonton.PHOTO/DELLY CARR@ITU
New Zealand have their Edmonton World Championship campaign under way with the perfect three from three gold medals in the Aquathlon world championships, with Anneke Jenkins (Tauranga) taking the elite women, Kyle Smith (Taupo) the elite junior men and Jaimee Leader (Palmerston North) the elite junior women.
The three werethe only elite Kiwis lining up, delivering a 100 per cent hit rate to give the entire team of elites and age groupers a huge boost in the first event of the week. All will back up later in the week in their respective World Championship triathlon events.
Jenkins, who will compete at 6am on Sunday (NZ time), spoke of the proud tradition that New Zealand brings to the sport and big events after her win. "It was good, I really enjoyed it, the Kiwis are so tough and we work really hard. The role models that have gone before are awesome and make it simple, just train hard, focus and have no other dramas. I have done a couple of these before but not too many.
"This is a good warm up for later in the week, I would have done some hard training today anyway so it is good to get on the course and check it out before racing later in the week."
Tri NZ talent development coach Tim Brazier described a day of great execution from all three. "The Tri NZ HP team is stoked for all three athletes to come and execute so well on the day after long days of travel. Anneke raced strongly today in holding off the Ukraine competitor on the run and both Jaimee and Kyle stood out today in the way they went about their processes and executing and not giving up.
"This is very good experience for both Kyle and Jaimee, on the course and in the atmosphere of a World Championship and in the team environment and coping with the pressure that comes with that. Both will back up later in their triathlon events so this is great for their confidence and preparation for their triathlon events still to come."
