Multisport: Crew head for world champs

Back, Leon Whaanga (left), Hastings, Karen Moore, Hastings, Jane Lee, Taradale, Eva Goodisson, Havelock North, Shane Jenssen, Waipukurau. Front, Monica Burnard (left), Hastings, Fred Koenders, Napier. Photo / Duncan Brown

Jane Lee likes a challenge so at 62 she completed a Half Ironman.

Next week the 65-year-old will represent New Zealand at the Triathlon World Championships in Chicago.

She was selected by Triathlon NZ to represent the 65-70 age group and will compete in the sprint event (750m swim, 20km Bike, 5km run) on September 18.

She is one of seven from Hawke's Bay competing at the championships. There are about 130 athletes going from around the country.

For Lee, it's all about competing to the best of her ability and having her family there cheering her on.

She never imagined that a colleague's encouragement to join the Hawke's Bay Triathlon club would lead her down this path.

The Community Mental Health Team nurse has been cycling for a number of years, having completed the 160km Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge for the past 10 years - and she intends to do it again this year.

A running injury saw Monica Burnard swap the track for triathlon. She is also a first-time rep who will compete in the sprint 20-24 world age group.

She learned the discipline that is needed for the sport through being coached by Allan Potts for track, cross-country and road running through high school.

The youngest of the group, Eva Goodisson, will compete in the 16-19 age group for the aquathon and sprint distance triathlon events.

The Woodford House student is busily trying to manage the work load of NCEA level 2 with her social life, and training around 14 hours a week.

She overcame shin splints earlier in the year and then went on to race at the national schools' cross-country a week later and was selected as first reserve for the world schools' cross-country champs in Hungary next year.

Goodisson has been involved in triathlon for just three years.

It became more serious for her 18 months ago when she trained for the national Sovereign triathlon series, won gold in the U-16 age group and was selected for the 2014 world champs team.

Shane Jenssen is also relatively new to the sport, having completed his first triathlon in March 2014. He was using triathlons to train for Ironman NZ, which he finished this year. Just a week after Ironman he managed to qualify in the 50-54 age group for the Olympic distance triathlon (500m swim, 40km bike, 10km run).

"It has been a very busy 18 months and, at the beginning, I would not have believed that I would be travelling to Chicago to represent my country."

Leon Whaanga will compete in the same race.

He said it would be a privilege to wear the Silver Fern.

With six half ironmans, 15 Olympic distance triathlons, three Rotorua marathons and one Ironman NZ completed, he still considers himself a novice. "Representing New Zealand is my greatest sporting achievement."

His passion for the sport was sparked by the inaugural IronMori in 2009, where success was finishing.

Dean of Commerce and Technology at EIT, Fred Koenders is switching from leading a large faculty to racing in the 55-59 year age group over the Olympic distance.

It will be the second time that Koenders has represented New Zealand.

The triathlete of 26 years and life member of Triathlon Hawke's Bay said squeezing training into a busy work life had not been easy but he was grateful for supportive colleagues and club members who trained with him during winter.

Karen Moore will line up to race in the 35-39 age group.

The nutritionist gave triathlon a go after having her first child. She did "reasonably well" so kept going. She took out her age group title in Auckland to qualify for the world championships where she is aiming for a top 10 finish.