Triathalon: Aussie staking NZ Games claim

WELLINGTON - Leading Australian triathlete Rina Hill is chasing victory in the Oceania championships in Gisborne today to promote her Olympic bid in New Zealand colours.

Hill has decided to switch allegiances to New Zealand in an attempt to qualify for Sydney 2000, where triathlon makes its Olympic debut. The world No 10, who is married to a New Zealander, moved to Auckland last month after missing out on the Australian Olympic squad.

While red-tape procedures are not expected to be completed until later this month, victory in the Oceania championships may provide her a possible lifeline for Olympic selection.

If Hill gains New Zealand citizenship and approval from triathlon's two ruling bodies and the national Olympic committee, she may lose the qualifying points gained over the past two years, as she had competed as an Australian.

The highest-placed non-qualified triathlete in today's race will earn the right to be considered for Olympic selection.

It is the first time the Oceania championships have been held in New Zealand, and Hill will face tough opposition, led by two-time world champion Emma Carney and fellow-Australians Melissa Ashton, Rebecca Keat and Jane Kargotich, New Zealand's Shanelle Barrett, Sue Mellsop and Heidi Alexander and American Jill Newman.

Carney, the 1994 and 1997 world champion, is looking to kick-start her year after missing much of 1998 and 1999 with injury.

Competition for the three Olympic spots in the Australian team is fierce, with all five squad athletes - Carney, Jackie Gallagher, Joanne King, Loretta Harrop and Michellie Jones - having won the world championships over the Olympic distance. They have shared seven of the past eight world crowns.

New Zealand have only two women qualified already for Sydney: Wellington's Evelyn Williamson and Christchurch's Jenny Rose. Williamson will bypass the Gisborne race, while Rose is injured.

New Zealand-born Chris McCormack, the 1997 world champion, heads a talented men's field that includes fellow Australians Brad Beven, the 1994 World Cup champion, and defending champion Greg Bennett.

The New Zealand charge will be led by world No 17 Jamie Hunt, who needs a strong start to the year to press his Olympic claims.

World No 1 Hamish Carter will bypass the race, while other Olympic hopefuls Paul Amey and Shane and Matt Reed are competing in the Australian formula one series. Craig Watson is injured.

There will be particular interest in the performance of Ben Bright, who won the world junior title in 1994 competing for Australia. But, like the Reed brothers, he has switched allegiance to his native New Zealand.

After two seasons out of the limelight, Bright has been training in Christchurch under the guidance of top New Zealand coach John Hellemans.

Winners at Gisborne earn the right to be considered directly for Olympic selection by their respective national Olympic committees. - NZPA