Athletics: McIlroy dumped from triathlon squad

Kiwi triathlete Kate McIlroy. Photo / Getty Images

Leading triathlete Kate McIlroy has been dumped from Triathlon New Zealand's high performance podium squad for next year.

McIlroy, who competed at this year's Glasgow Commonwealth Games and the London Olympics in 2012, has been a regular high performance squad member in recent seasons.

The group of four includes New Zealand's best athlete, Christchurch's Andrea Hewitt, plus Nicky Samuels of Wanaka, both of whom made the world series final podium to give a sparkling end to the year, along with leading men Ryan Sissons (North Shore) and Tony Dodds (Wanaka).

Five athletes have been named in the development group.

TNZ high performance boss Graeme Maw said the door is open to those who leave the squads, but insisted the sport had to invest wisely and ensure the next generation is being identified and given opportunities to progress to the senior group.

"We are pleased to have been able to give opportunity to those with whom we part ways, and will look forward to doing so again should they return to the pathway," Maw said.

The squads will again be based at the sport's High Performance Centre in Cambridge, with the development squad living and training in Cambridge on a fulltime basis.

The podium squad will divide their time between Cambridge, their home bases and time spent overseas preparing for, and competing in, world series events.

The development squad members are Whangarei's Simone Ackermann, Auckland trio Elise Salt, Sam Ward and Sophie Corbidget, and Taupo's Nicole van der Kaay.

The national talent squad is: Dan Hoy, Trent Thorpe, Liam Ward and Ainsley Thorpe (all Auckland), Tayler Reid (Gisborne), Kyle Smith (Taupo), Fynn Thompson (Queenstown), Ari Graham (Christchurch), Jaimee Leader and Lizzie Stannard (Palmerston North).