Britain’s paratriathletes won medals in Japan and Spain competing in the ITU World Paratriathlon Event series. The Great Britain team won one gold medal, two silvers and two bronzes.
Competing in Aguilas, Spain, Melissa Reid won an excellent gold medal with Hazel Smith in the PT5 event for visually impaired athletes. The 25 year old from Cornwall had the quickest swim. She then stayed ahead for the remainder of the race, finishing ahead of Spain’s Susana Rodriguez, who beat her at the ITU World Championships in Chicago last summer.
Ryan Taylor, a world championships bronze medal winner, claimed silver in the PT2 event. The former England cerebral palsy footballer from Derby is eyeing Paralympic selection as the sport prepares to make its debut in Rio in September.
Kerry Large claimed silver on her international debut in the PT4 category; the same category in which Britain’s Lauren Steadman is the current ITU World Champion. She was followed by Ruth Wilson, also making her debut after coming through British Triathlon’s talent ID programme. Another debutant, Steven Crowley was 7th in the men’s PT4.
In Japan Mark Conway won his first ever World Paratriathlon medal with bronze in the PT1 event. He lined up in a tough field that included Australian five-time world champion, Bill Chaffey. Also in Yokohama, Chris Frost finished 11th in the PT4 event.
British Triathlon Head Coach, Jonathon Riall, said: “Today was a good day all round, with three new athletes competing at world level and coping very well with the demands of racing at this level. The more experienced athletes, Melissa and Ryan, built on their early season racing.”
On Reid’s win, he added: “Melissa and Hazel were racing for the second time together and with a revised race plan, so it was fantastic to see the result fell their way.”
The squad is now preparing for the ETU European Championships in Lisbon at the end of the month. Vital extra ranking points that are on offer will decide who qualifies slots for Rio.
Great Britain results; ITU World Paratriathlon Event Series; 750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run:
Gold
Melissa Reid / Hazel Smith, PT5, Aguilas
Silver
Ryan Taylor, PT2, Aguilas
Kerry Large, PT4, Aguilas
Bronze
Ruth Wilson, PT4, Aguilas
Mark Conway, PT1, Yokohama
Full results:
Aguilas: http://www.triathlon.org/results/event/2016_aguilas_itu_world_paratriathlon_event
Yokohama: http://www.triathlon.org/results/event/2016_yokohama_itu_world_paratriathlon_event
