Super Sprint Race Weekend kicks off tomorrow, with emerging athletes from across the country culminating at Runaway Bay on the Gold Coast to fight for the ultimate prize – to be named Australian Junior or Youth Super Sprint Champion.
Recognised as a stepping stone into the elite, this race is filled with prestige and great company including a couple of World Champions and Olympians such as Ashleigh Gentle, Matt Hauser, Jaz Hedgeland, Jake Birtwhistle, and Emma Jackson.
In part 2 of the Super Sprint Race Weekend preview, we will look at the remaining states, Queensland, ACT, Tasmania and Western Australia.
ACT:
ACT, don the badge of small but mighty and Tara Holmes is one to keep a watch on throughout the tournament, competing in the junior female category. She is coming into the event in impressive form, having recently won the Sprint Triathlon at Challenge Canberra.
She also came third in the A final in the recent Orange NSW Billigence Series Race. Was in the B Final last time at Super Sprint Race Weekend and has got her sights set on taking the next step this year.
Queensland:
The Anderson, last name may ring a bell, as Hunter is the younger brother of 3-time champ, Aspen Anderson. Hunter, is not short of experience having raced in the Oceania Junior Championships in Devonport in March. Hunter is in good company with Austin Camenzuli, another junior male, looking to leave his mark on the competition after recently being identified as part of the AusTriathlon’s Target Talent Program (TTP).
Elke Rayward was recently invited to train with the Aspire talent squad on the Gold Coast and won Youth Female last year. This will be her first year in the Junior female category and will be eager to put her best foot forward. Charlotte Kane is another exciting prospect for Queensland, recently chosen for the Aspire Program while Siena Picton will be competing in the Youth Female category and came second in Youth Female last year, behind Elke.
Tasmania:
Tassie’s own Hunter Dean and Oscar Pither will be vying to leave his mark at the Super Sprint Race Weekend while Harry Jackson will be competing in the Youth Male division and will be looking to go one better this time around after coming second in the Youth B final earlier this year.
Western Australia:
Luke Williams is no stranger to the Super Sprint Race Weekend, having won the Youth Male category two years ago and will be keen to repeat his efforts once again this year, albeit in the next category. Fellow countrywoman, Ava Henville knows what it takes to compete on the big stage racing in the Junior World Championships in Wolllongong. She also secured first place at the School Sport Nationals in the Senior Triathlon earlier this year. Western Australia’s Florence Erskine is another promising prospect, having placed second at the Junior Triathlon division at School Sport Nationals in March.
Athletes will accumulate points through various events, such as aquathlon, mixed relay and the sprint with points assigned based on overall time.
For more information on the Australian Junior & Youth Super Sprint Championships, click here.
