NEWS

Oceania titles up for grabs in Devonport

By Erin Greene | 26 Feb, 2014

The 2014 ITU triathlon season inches closer to the start as continental championship races kick off this weekend with the 2014 Devonport OTU Oceania Championships. One of Australia’s longest standing triathlons, racing will take place on Saturday in the Tasmanian city. 

Elite Women
Under23 World Champion Charlotte McShane will have a target on her back this weekend as she lines up first at the Oceania Championships. A win for McShane, however, won’t be easy to come by with the start list highlighted by Australia and New Zealand’s up and coming talent. Natalie Van Coevorden (AUS), who trains with McShane, will join the heated battle, having finished outside the medal range last year.

Start list

Elite Men
Reigning Oceania champion Peter Kerr will head up a hearty field of men this weekend in Devonport. The race last year was a breakout performance from Kerr, who went on to enjoy his most successful season to date with his first ever World Cup medal.

The race was also a launching point for Australia’s Aaron Royle. After collecting silver in the race last year, he went on to post top 10 performances at the Auckland, Madrid and London Grand Final World Triathlon Series races. Royle’s success should set the Aussie up with the confidence to take the continental championship this year.

Royle’s training partner Ryan Bailie also gained valuable experience competing amongst the best in the world on the WTS circuit last year, dramatically improving his performances in the series, with three top 10 finishes.

Bryce Mcmaster leads a shallow Kiwi team. After finishing just off the podium last year, Mcmaster will have his sights on a medal this year. Declan Wilson (AUS) could also impact the field, having finished third in the men’s Under23 World Championships while youngster Jacob Birtwhistle will whet his appetite for elite competition, racing for the first time in a continental championships as an U23 athlete. Despite an off season last year, don’t count out Australian Olympian and 2012 champion Brendan Sexton to factor.

Start list

The women will get underway at 1:15pm local time, while the men will start at 3:30pm.

Related Event: 2014 Devonport OTU Triathlon Oceania Championships
01 Mar, 2014 • event pageall results
Results: Elite Men
1. Aaron Royle AUS 01:53:01
2. Ryan Fisher AUS 01:53:03
3. Declan Wilson AUS 01:54:41
4. Ryan Bailie AUS 01:55:31
5. Cameron Goldsmid NZL 01:55:35
6. Brendan Sexton AUS 01:56:18
7. Jacob Birtwhistle AUS 01:56:49
8. Peter Kerr AUS 01:57:06
9. Matthew Baker AUS 01:57:31
10. Jesse Thyer AUS 01:59:05
Results: Elite Women
1. Gillian Backhouse AUS 02:07:57
2. Natalie Van Coevorden AUS 02:08:37
3. Melinda Vernon AUS 02:09:20
4. Fiona Crombie NZL 02:09:54
5. Charlotte McShane AUS 02:10:27
6. Rebecca Clarke NZL 02:10:52
7. Deborah Lynch NZL 02:12:00
8. Annelise Jefferies AUS 02:12:30
9. Maddie Dillon NZL 02:14:00
10. Anneke Jenkins NZL 02:15:51
Results: U23 Men
1. Declan Wilson AUS 01:54:41
2. Jacob Birtwhistle AUS 01:56:49
3. Matthew Baker AUS 01:57:31
4. Jesse Thyer AUS 01:59:05
5. Cooper Rand NZL 01:59:15
6. Jake Montgomery AUS 02:00:04
7. Nathan Buschkuehl AUS 02:00:25
8. Joel Tobin White AUS 02:01:24
9. Matt Franklin NZL 02:01:49
10. Robert Huisman NZL 02:02:53
Results: U23 Women
1. Gillian Backhouse AUS 02:07:57
2. Natalie Van Coevorden AUS 02:08:37
3. Deborah Lynch NZL 02:12:00
4. Annelise Jefferies AUS 02:12:30
5. Maddie Dillon NZL 02:14:00
6. Laura Wood NZL 02:19:03
7. Martina Fellmann NZL 02:20:16
8. Ashleigh Williams NZL 02:20:40
9. Mikayla Nielsen NZL 02:24:37
10. Francesca Stafford NZL 02:27:59
Results: Junior Men
1. Matthew Hauser AUS 00:57:57
2. Tayler Reid NZL 00:58:22
3. Matthew Roberts AUS 00:58:40
4. Daniel Coleman AUS 00:58:48
5. Jay Wallwork NZL 00:58:59
6. Leighton Cook AUS 00:59:19
7. Fynn Thompson NZL 00:59:43
8. Tayte Dixon AUS 01:00:04
9. Max Neumann AUS 01:00:10
10. Sam Lade AUS 01:00:18
Results: Junior Women
1. Jaz Hedgeland AUS 01:03:43
2. Kira Hedgeland AUS 01:04:00
3. Nicole Van Der Kaay NZL 01:04:48
4. Sophie Malowiecki AUS 01:05:06
5. Brittany Dutton AUS 01:05:14
6. Elise Salt NZL 01:05:22
7. Mikala Falconer AUS 01:06:09
8. Kirsty Deacon AUS 01:06:50
9. Jessica Hoskin AUS 01:07:33
10. Meg Stevenson AUS 01:09:02