Triathlon: Olympian McIlroy targeting return to NZ team for Rio

Kate McIlroy. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Olympian Kate McIlroy has indicated she wants back in for the Rio Games in 2016 after being left out of the national high performance group.

The group has been trimmed to four - New Zealand's best athlete, Christchurch's Andrea Hewitt, plus Nicky Samuels of Wanaka, along with leading men Ryan Sissons (North Shore) and Tony Dodds (Wanaka).

McIlroy, who has competed at the London Olympics in 2012 and this year's Glasgow Commonwealth Games, has lost her spot due to form.

She has been bugged by Achilles and ankle problems, which have hurt her results, but Triathlon New Zealand high performance boss Graeme Maw said the door remains open for her return to the national team.

The Wellington athlete is receiving specific assistance, for example with physiotherapy.

"She has got ground to make up but has the ambition and desire to go to Rio," Maw said.

Five athletes have been named in the development group - Whangarei's Simone Ackermann, Auckland trio Elise Salt, Sam Ward and Sophie Corbidge, and Taupo's Nicole van der Kaay.

The squads will again be based at the sport's High Performance Centre in Cambridge.

The nine-race world series starts in Abu Dhabi in March with Auckland hosting the second leg on March 28-29.

Talent squad
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).