Triathlon: Duathlon success augurs well for worlds

The Whangarei Triathlon Club tasted success at the New Zealand national duathlon championships in Taupo.

Seven of their athletes competed at the championships on Sunday and produced good performances in a competitive field from around the country.

The group came away with three gold and two bronze medals with Marion Morrison, Rachyl Edge and Mike Gillming all winning their classes.

Morrison took first place in the women's standard distance (50-54 year), while Edge won the short-distance champs and Gillming the men's (55-59) sprint distance. Jane Young was third in the women's sprint distance (35-39), while Denise Limby finished third in the women's sprint distance (45-49).

DJ Gillming narrowly missed a medal finishing in fourth in the women's sprint distance (45-49) while Mike Hardiman had a good race with a commendable seventh place in his men's standard distance race (40-45).

Edge, who has just celebrated her 14th birthday, is co-coached by Murray Healey (cycling and triathlon), Dave Girbin (swimming) and Chris Portch (running) and has a bright future.

One of Sam Warriner's athletes, Louis Poot, was third in the Year 8 boys section of the NZ secondary schools duathlon championships.

For the Whangarei tri club, the national duathlon champs are a good lead-in to the World Triathlon Champs in Auckland at Labour Weekend where all of the above athletes are competing.