Balance key focus to riding Mexican wave

Young Whanganui athlete Jazmin Phillips is heading down Mexico way to compete in the ITU Aquathon World Championships next year. PHOTO/STUART MUNRO

A season of transition will be put to the test when young Whanganui athlete Jazmin Phillips heads down Mexico way next year.

The 17-year-old Collegiate School student has been selected to join the New Zealand team to compete at the ITU Aquathon World Championships in Cozumel, Mexico between September 11 and 18, 2016.

Phillips gained selection afer finishing second in the women's 18-19 age group at the Jennian Homes NZ Aquathon Championships in Mt Maunganui late last month. She clocked 38 minutes .07 seconds for the 1km open water swim and 5km road run.

Phillips has long been known for her deeds in the pool with the Subway Swim team and in track and field, particularly for her school.

She is the only girl to have won gold in the road race at the New Zealand Secondary Schools every year since she began in Year 9. Next term Phillips will enter Year 13 at Collegiate.

Athletics coach Alec McNab said Phillips was a solid team runner.

"I have been transitioning to distance swimming and running in the past season or so," Phillips said yesterday.

"My strength is probably the swim and I don't mind open water after competing for so many years in the pool. In saying that running has been a big part of my life, too."

McNab and Phillips swim coach Andy McLay were keen to meet to help Phillips balance her training programme in the lead up to Mexico.

"Jazmin also likes the hammer throw and netball, but when you represent your country you need to be focused on the event you have been selected for. I would like to sit down with Jazmin and her swim coach and try and map out a programme that fits in with her other sports and the aquathon," McNab said.

McLay agreed and said Phillips had already made a good transition to freestyle and open water after competing in other strokes.

Phillips said while she had competed in age group swim meets in Australia, the step to world championship level was a something she was looking forward to.