Britain’s top youth and junior athletes were in action on Sunday last week (7 April 2013) at the British Elite Youth and Junior Duathlon Championships at Prestwold Airfield.
The event also doubled as the first race of the British Youth & Junior Super Series, ensuring a high-quality field took to the start line for the domestic elite multisport season opener.
The youth events got the days racing off to a flying start, as the elite female wave was the first to test their winter training on the fast Prestwold circuit.
Grace Cook led the athletes out of T1 after the opening 2.5km run, before being brought back into a lead group of six athletes for the 10km bike. As the athletes emerged from T2, Bronwen Owen from Yorkshire moved up into second place and began to show her strong running ability as the athletes neared the finish line. The youngster from Wales delivered the fastest final run split of the day and took the win in a time of 31.39.
Bronwen commented: “It was good, the first run was not easy but not too hard for the bike. On the bike, we tried to stay away but the big pack caught us, so it didn’t really work and then I tried to save myself for the last run. I knew I didn’t have the sprint, so I had to get away quick [on that final run].”
Grace Cook maintained her strong performance finishing in second place with a time of 31.51. Talking after the race, she commented: “It feels really good, as this is my first Youth Series race, so I was really pleased with it.”
Sian Rainsley finished in third place with a time of 31.54.
In the youth male race, the win went to Lewis Byram in a time of 28.42. Lewis commented: “It was a tough race, there aren’t many spectators on the course, so you are really by yourself for much of the race. I should be doing a lot of the youth super series races this year and next up will be Liverpool in July.”
Jordan Hull finished second in 28.46, whilst Jack Willis finished third in 28.56.
In the British Elite Junior Duathlon Championships, the competitors started in the same wave as the seniors creating a great racing experience for some of Britain’s most talented youngsters.
In the junior women’s race, the title went to Kate Curran in 01:03.43 with Leah Peploe in second with 01:04.32. Third place went to Megan Withers in a time of 01:06.37.
Talking after the race, winner Kate was delighted to cross the line first: “It was a good feeling, although it was a quite a hard race, I was clinging on during the bike, but I am really pleased. I really like the course, as I won her last year as a youth, so I just feel good on it [the course].
In the junior men’s race, Liam Lloyd took the win in a time of 55.47. Following Liam’s victory, he commented on how tough the competition was: “The first run was really quick and just hanging onto the seniors was quite tough, especially when you are trying to save the legs for the bike.”
Jimmy Kershaw came second in 56.07 and Calum Johnson finished third in 56.40.
The British Triathlon Youth and Junior Super Series next race will be the European Youth Relay Qualifier at Eton Dorney for the youth athletes and then Blenheim Triathlon for both youth and junior athletes.
