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2002 ITU Accenture Devonport Triathlon.
Tasmania,
Australia. There will be a strong international
presence at this Sunday's ITU Devonport Triathlon.
18 of the expected 41 elite triathletes racing this
year are from overseas and there is a strong chance
both women's and men's titles could go abroad.
Triathletes
from the United States, Canada, France, Great Britain,
Switzerland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Japan and
Bermuda have come to Devonport in pursuit of valuable
International Triathlon Union world ranking points
and a share of the $50,000.00 prize pool.
The
best prospect for international success would appear
to be in the women's race where the top two contenders
Barb Lindquist and Siri Lindley are from the United
States. Lindquist will defend the title she won so
impressively here last year whilst Lindley the reigning
World Champion and World Number One is the best-credentialed
athlete in either field. Great Britain's Leanda Cave,
Canadian Olympian Sharon Donnelly and Laura Reback
from the United States are genuine threats for a top
three finish.
In
men's competition, the race is a much more open affair
and defending and Australia's Chris Hill the 2001
winner will face many challengers. Swiss triathletes
Dominik Rechsteiner, Andreas Gruetter and Germany's
Torsten Abel have joined a very strong men's field.
Using recent form and reputation to sort the contenders
Britain's Andrew Johns, the Czech Republic's Martin
Krnavek and Frenchman Olivier Marceau stand out.
Marceau
is the 2000 World Champion, Johns is ranked number
3 in the world and won Devonport in 1998 and Krnavek
has had a great 2001 climbing to 10th in the world
rankings. Krnavek may need to be watched closely having
won 2 world cup races last year defeating Australians
Miles Stewart and Chris Hill in the process. French
triathlete Gail Mainard is determined to secure a
spot in his country's Olympic squad whilst Canadians
Kelly Guest and Brent McMahon return to Devonport
having raced well here in 2001.
The
2002 Devonport Triathlon is on Sunday 17th March and
will commence at 1 pm. The event traditionally attracts
thousands of spectators to the race transition area
on the western bank of the Mersey River.
Malcolm
Wells
Devonport Triathlon Association
Devonport, Tasmania, Australia.
0407256337
