This weekend will see the Triathlon WA (TWA) State Series kick off with the first of our five State Championships Races – the State Duathlon Championships presented by EXSS Events. With racing opportunities for everyone, the day has attracted athletes from as far as Esperance and will see athletes aged from 7 to 70+ participate in the run, bike, run format at Champion Lakes. The race is also a WQE for Triathlon Australia members.
The Open field is headlined by a number of 2019/20 State Champions, including both of the Triathletes of the Year (TOTY) – Nick Thompson (UWA Tri Club) and Madison Toovey (North Coast Tri Club). Thompson, last year’s State Duathlon Champion, will have to defend his title against a strong field including Guy Crawford (Fremantle Tri Club), Aaron Houghton (Fremantle Tri Club), Blake Kappler (North Coast Tri Club), Dale Zabiela (Bunbury Tri Club) and Jonny Sammut (Exceed Tri Club). Adam White (Exceed Tri Club) also lines up in the Open category in his return to racing post-injury. Luke Bate (UWA Tri Club), who has recently returned from training and racing on the east coast, will also be gunning for the Open State Duathlon Championship in what promises to be a great race. A late inclusion to the start list is Matt Smith (Fremantle Tri Club) who was the 2019 winner of the Kigali ATU Sprint Duathlon African Cup.
The women’s Open field sees veteran professional athlete Kate Bevilaqua (Fremantle Tri Club) amongst a group of upcoming athletes, Aleisha Wesley (North Coast Tri Club), Rachael Wales (Exceed Tri Club) and Rhianna Hepburn (UWA Tri Club). Defending Triathlete of the Year, Maddie Toovey will be looking to go one better at the duathlon this weekend, after placing second at the championship last year.
The Senior men’s competition will see some fierce competition between strong bike/runners including Bart Hollemans, Shayne Dimmer, Graeme Bamber and Greg Manning. The women’s field will also see some fast racing with past TOTY podium athletes Emma Moon, Rosie Farrell, Rebecca Lewis and Robyn Scott all toeing the start line.
Our Junior State Series also kicks off this weekend with our 12 – 19 age athletes looking to secure some early season points towards TOTY. With some of last year’s Junior winners moving age groups, we will see a number of our Development Program athletes going head to head on Sunday.
The Paratriathlete category will also see a battle for top podium position between Perth Triathlon Club’s Nige Young and Bunbury Triathlon Club’s Dennis Devereaux.
Sunday will also be the first race in the new Interclub Series, which sees clubs compete for points in pursuit of the titles of Champion Club in their region and Overall Champion Club, as well as up to $750 in prizes for the club. For more information on the interclub series – click here.
The EXSS Events State Duathlon Champs start from 6:50 am on Sunday, 4 October at Champion Lakes. Entries close 11:59 pm Saturday, 3 October.