Triathlon: Teen triathlete looking good to take on world

Devon Beckman (left), Bradley Christison, Lauchlan Cairns and Shamus Christison after finishing second overall in the Tag Team Relay. Photo/Supplied

Hawke's Bay triathlete Devon Beckman is eyeing a berth in the New Zealand under-19 elite team for next year's world championships.

If his form at the weekend's Kinloch-hosted national championships is an indication Beckman will make it. The 16-year-old Napier Boys' High School Year 13 student returned home with three medals.

He won silver in the 16-17 years sprint race with a time of 1hr 04m 14s for the 750m swim, 20km cycle and 5km run. This Saturday performance also earned Beckman a bronze medal in the 16-19 years Oceania age group champs.

On Sunday, Beckman joined his Hawke's Bay Multisport Club clubmates Bradley and Shamus Christison and Lauchlan Cairns in a Tag Team Relay junior male team, who finished second overall. This event involves each competitor doing all three disciplines and tagging their next teammate once they have completed their stint.

"My aim was to podium," Beckman, a triathlete for the past eight years, said.

He pointed out his sprint distance individual time was 3min faster than he recorded on the same course last year.

Beckman was in a positive frame of mind as he travelled to Taupo on the Friday before the championships as the previous day he was named deputy head boy at his school.

Beckman is coached over the internet by Thailand-based former Hawke's Bay Multisport Club coach Tim Jardine who encouraged Beckman to maintain this form for the remainder of the summer.

While Beckman has competed as an orienteer at international level he said triathlon will become his main focus after this year. A big fan of Britain's Olympic champion Alistair Brownlee, Beckman will continue to train as an athlete when he starts a four-year commerce course at Auckland University next year.

With twice daily training sessions Beckman can put in up to 16 hours training each week. His next major events are the under-19 elite nationals in Wellington on March 8 and the national secondary schools champs in Gisborne at the end of March.

Beckman was quick to reply when asked what the secret to his successes are.

"A superb support group consisting of my coach, club and family."

Since December Beckman has benefited from regular training sessions with 21-year-old Scottish triathlete Caitlin Bradley. A Jardine-coached competitor, Bradley has been based with the Beckman family.

"It makes it easier training with somebody else rather than pushing yourself all the time," Beckman added.

Bradley Christison also collected a third placing in his 13-15 years sprint race on the Saturday.

Other Hawke's Bay Multisport Club members to record top three finishes included Julie Boshier with a win in the 65-69 years category, Eva Goodisson and Holly Moroney who were first and second respectively in the 13-15 years age group, Jake Jackson-Grammer who was first overall in the sprint series and Vicki Fuhrer who was third in the 55-59 years age group.

Hawke's Bay Multisport Club's development manager Brendon Lodge had every right to be delighted with the success of his club's members at the nationals.

"To have so many of our youngsters collect top three placings was particularly pleasing. They are going to be around for a long time and this augurs well for the future of the club," Lodge said.