18 Jun 2009

Triathlon NZ names A and B teams for mixed races

12:08 pm on 18 June 2009

Triathlon New Zealand has confirmed two teams for the first ITU World Team Triathlon Championships, to be raced in the USA on Monday week.

The mixed teams will race in a super sprint format at Des Moines in Iowa, with each competitor completing the 750-metre swim, seven-kilometre cycle and 1.8-kilometre run and a $US40,000 first prize.

New Zealand A is Sam Warriner, Andrea Hewitt, Bevan Docherty and Kris Gemmell and the B team is Kate McIlroy, Rebecca Spence, Clark Ellice and Ryan Sissons. The reserve is Martin van Barneveld.

Debbie Tanner and Nicky Samuels are not racing in Des Moines and were not considered.

Head coach Greg Fraine says New Zealand A has four athletes capable of winning any race anywhere in the world on their day.

Fraine says the ITU is very keen to include team racing on the Olympic programme and it will be an even more exciting format.