Teams named for ITU World Triathlon Grand Final Gold Coast

Triathlon New Zealand have named 15 athletes to join New Zealand's age-group representatives making it the largest ever New Zealand team at an overseas World Championships event with over 400 athletes.

The team named to represent New Zealand are;

Elite Athletes;

Andrea Hewitt

Rebecca Spence

Deb Lynch

Ryan Sissons

Sam Ward

U23 Athletes;

Nicole van der Kaay

Kiri Atkin

Tayler Reid

Hayden Wilde

Junior Athletes (selected in May);

Hannah Knighton

Ari Graham

Brea Roderick

Dylan McCullough

Trent Dodds

Saxon Morgan

High-Performance Director Mark Elliot is pleased with the teams development.

"The depth we have coming through at U23 male level is really encouraging and it is great to have a good mix of experience within the wider team. We look forward to seeing the team continue to step up on the world stage as we have seen throughout the year with WTS top 10 results and World Cup podiums."

"It's also great to be having a World Championship event on the back doorstep as we return to the Gold Coast after a successful Commonwealth Games..'

Deborah Lynch is looking forward to returning to the Gold Coast.

"This is my first elite worlds nomination, so thats pretty special - a reflection I hope on some more consistent race results this season. Gold Coast was actually my first worlds team back in 2009 when I competed as a junior age-grouper, so its a neat full circle"

Sam Ward is looking forward to competing close to home.

"I'm really looking forward to having a Grand Final at a venue so close to home, to have family and friends at a race supporting makes such a difference. My preparations for Gold Coast have been going very well and I will be looking to continue my climb up the World Series rankings."

Kiri Atkin is also looking forward to the challenge and looking forward to representing New Zealand.

"Im really excited to have the opportunity to represent New Zealand at the World Champs next month and am looking forward to seeing what I can do come race day"

More than 5,000 of the worlds best elite and age group triathletes will be heading to Queensland for the final race of the 2018 season.

Athletes representing 46 nations will be competing at Southport Broadwater Parklands, the site of the 2009 ITU World Triathlon Championships and this years Commonwealth Games Triathlon event.

The 2018 ITU World Triathlon Grand Final will celebrate the diversity of the sport of triathlon with athletes competing in Elite, Under 23, Junior and Elite Para-triathlon categories as well as the U23/Jnr Mixed Relay, Age Group - Standard and Sprint Distance- and Open Para-triathlon events.

https://goldcoast.triathlon.org

- This story has been automatically published using a media release from Triathlon New Zealand