Triathlon: Veteran finds new perch on global set

Bay triathletes Julie Boshier (left), Sherry Majors, Jane Lee, Steve Charles, Kathy Eggers, Tracey Chatterton, Megan Watson. Fred Koenders (front) is chef de mission to Cozumel. PHOTO/Warren Buckland

THERE'S a place reserved for Fred Koenders at this year's World Triathlon Championship but this time it's on the sideline.

The seasoned triathlete and EIT dean of commerce and technology is switching from participating to team management.

Triathlon New Zealand appointed him chef de mission to the ITU Grand Final in Cozumel in Mexico.

He has worked closely with the national sporting body, organising everything from travel and accommodation to uniforms and a race-week schedule.

"Leading a New Zealand team internationally has its challenges but is a huge opportunity to do the job well," he said.

Part of his team include five of the nine Bay athletes who qualified for world championship this year.

Megan Watson, Julie Boshier, Sherry Majors, Steve Charles and Jane Lee will race over olympic or sprint distance races in Cozumel.

Boshier will be wearing the silver fern as she competes in the 70-74 age group. Swimming, cycling and running keeps her fit for her large garden and curtain shop where she does the measure, make and fit curtains and blinds in Waipawa and surrounding district.

Majors said it was once again a "thrill and privilege" to represent the country. She will be racing in both the sprint (750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run) and olympic races (1500m swim, 40km bike, 10km run) in the 60-65 age group.

While it was challenging at times training through the winter she said: "How can you not enjoy 30-degree air temperature and 27-degree water that we will experience in Cozumel."

For Watson, 22, it is a return to the sport and racing at worlds. The NZ Army medic took a break in 2012 to focus on her studies and career. She returned to triathlon last year, quickly regaining her fitness to qualify.

It is two world championship in two years for Lee who will be racing the sprint event in the 65- 70 age group. The nurse completed her first half Ironman at age 62 and this year, at 66, completed the NZ Ironman in Taupo in a time of 15 hours 20 minutes.

Charles, is completing the trifecta in Cozumel racing in all three events, the aquathon, sprint and olympic distances in the 30-34 age group.

"For me, triathlon is an enjoyable sport which develops a useful set of skills for summer adventures, be it a leisurely Sunday bike ride, an evening jog, or one or the exciting events on offer such as the swim race down the Waikato River."

Also preparing to race on the world stage were Bay triathletes Kathy Eggers and Tracey Chatterton who qualified to compete at the World Long Distance Triathlon Championship in Oklahoma.

Eggers literally stumbled her way into the triathlon scene in 2008 as her form of physical rehab following nine months experiencing life as a quadriplegic, after being diagnosed with of a rare chronic neurological syndrome.

Small goals of sitting, and walking duathlons lead to short triathlons and now longer distance events. She will complete a 4km swim, 120km cycle, and 30km run in the 40-45 age group.

"Seven years ago I would never have imagined I would be doing long distance endurance events, let alone as an age group New Zealand representative."

Chatterton, chief reporter at Hawke's Bay Today, is also embarking on her first world race, competing in the 30-34 age group.

Hearing about those taking part in IronMaori inspired her to try the sport she now loves.

The first two athletes competing against the best in the world were Karen Toulmin and Linda Exeter-Grant who were racing at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships on the Sunshine Coast this weekend.

Exeter-Grant was looking forward to testing herself against the best while Toulmin hoped this race would be the first of many on the world stage. "I gain huge confidence and satisfaction from personal achievement. Every time I race I strive to do better, get faster ... I'm very competitive," she said.