The first ITU World Paratriathlon Event of the year takes place this Sunday in Buffalo City, South Africa. Lauren Steadman and Alison Patrick have the opportunity to seal Paralympic Games qualification. Others are chasing ranking points that will help them qualify later in the season.
Steadman and Patrick can achieve automatic qualification by virtue of having won medals at both the ITU Paratriathlon World Championships in 2014 and 2015. Winning this weekend will see them put forward to ParalympicsGB for selection.
ITU World Champion, Steadman said: “It would be a big boost to secure Paralympic qualification this weekend. However, I don’t want to get ahead of myself, this is the first race of the season.”
She added: “It’s great that the season is getting under way, and that Paralympic year is finally here. This is what we have all been working towards for many years.”
General selection will consider medal winning performances at the 2015 ITU World Championships as well as top ten performances at the ETU European Championships in May and rounds of the ITU World Paratriathlon Event Series up to 20 June.
Head Coach, Jonathon Riall commented: “There have been some big strides made over the winter and now is the opportunity for athletes to put their practice into a performance. This is the start, and what ever happens we will build from here towards the summer and aim to be in our best possible shape in Rio.”
He added: “Lauren and Alison can seal their Paralympic Games qualification this weekend if they get everything right and win the race, and the whole team is chasing ranking points, so every race is important now.”
The course in Buffalo City features a 750m sea swim, flat 20km bike and 5km run section.
2016 Buffalo City ITU World Paratriathlon Event; Sunday 20 March; 750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run
GB Athletes:
PT1: Phil Hogg, Bret Crossley
PT2: Ryan Taylor
PT4: Dave Hill, Lauren Steadman
PT4: Alison Patrick (guide Nicole Walters), Melissa Reid (guide Hazel Smith)
Complete start lists and event information: http://www.triathlon.org/events/event/2016_buffalo_city_itu_world_paratriathlon_event.
