Blatchford and Don Head Elite Team for World Championship
Monday, 1st August 2005
After strong performances at the Salford ITU World Cup on Sunday, National Champions Liz Blatchford and Tim Don have been named among a 10-strong Elite Team for the ITU Triathlon World Championships in Gamagori in September.
In collecting Gold and Bronze medals in Salford, Blatchford and Don cemented their places alongside fellow top-10 finishers Leanda Cave, Michelle Dillon, Helen Lawrence, Helen Tucker, Andrea Whitcombe, Stuart Hayes, and Andrew Johns, while Paul Amey was already picked following earlier World Cup results.
Tucker's outstanding performance in finishing 3rd in her World Cup debut has qualified her for both the senior and U23 Championships, and along with her coach, Chris Jones, she will decide in the next few days on her preference. The selectors are also considering any further possible options for the men's team.
Performance Director, Graeme Maw, was understandably delighted with the results in Salford, but added a note of caution: "The athletes set themselves very high standards for the weekend and just got on and delivered; but they are also aware that 9 top-10s at a World Cup does not yet equate to World Championship medals and are keen to deliver again in 6 weeks time."
The ITU World Championships take place in Gamagori, Japan, on September 11th, where the seniors will be joined by U23s and Juniors. Will Clarke and Fraser Cartmell met the selection standard for the U23s at the weekend, and while Olly Freeman's European title last week booked his Junior berth. The remainder of the U23 and Junior Teams will be determined at the London Triathlon next weekend.
Full information on British Triathlon's Elite Teams
http://www.britishtriathlon.org/performance
Full results from the Salford World Cup
Gamagori World Championships information
http://www.gamagori.world-triathlon2005.com/
Article Source: By Press Release, British Triathlon Association, 1 August 2005