Golden start to 2020 for NSWIS para-triathletes

NSWIS para-triathletes have helped Australia to an emphatic start to the 2020 triathlon season by claiming three gold medals at the Oceania Paratriathlon Championships in Newcastle.

Backed by a lively home crowd in hot and humid conditions, Lauren Parker, Jonathan Goerlach and Nic Beverage were able to top the standings in their respective divisions.

In the women’s PTWC, Parker sped home to her second consecutive Oceania Championship in 01:13:43 ahead Commonwealth Games teammate, Emily Tapp.

Speaking to Triathlon Australia, Parker said that racing in her hometown is simply the best way to start the season.

“I just felt great out there on course, I had so many supporters out there and I just really loved it,” she said.

“Getting the win today was awesome, and I hope to back up the win in Devonport, and take the win at the World Championships in Milan in May, leading into the Tokyo Paralympics.”

 

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Great to get the win in another Oceania Champs race in Newcastle. Thanks for all the amazing support, always special to race in front of your home crowd. Big thanks to @citynewcastle.au and @hevents for hosting the event. Well done to my @triaustralia team-mates as well including @katiekelly2013 and @briarna_silk, plus of course our Coach @danatk08. #RoadToTokyo #ReadySetTokyo

A post shared by Lauren Parker [Triathlon] (@laurenparker2127) on Jan 25, 2020 at 4:38pm PST

Jonathan Goerlach also earned a confidence-boosting win to start the season in the PTVI class, blitzing the field to finish in 01:03:55 ahead of para-triathlon stalwart Gerrad Gosens, while Commonwealth Games gold medallist Nic Beveridge secured a win in the men’s PTWC division.

 

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Amazing morning racing at the Newcastle harbour Paratriathlon event with @samdougotriathlon. Thanks to @sierra_bravo_ for the first class photography and the support from @nswinstituteofsport and @ausparalympics. One step closer to Tokyo Paralympic Games #ReadySetTokyo

A post shared by Jonathan Goerlach (@jonathangoerlach) on Jan 25, 2020 at 5:03pm PST

Australia’s paratriathletes will now turn their focus towards Devonport, with the ITU World Paratriathlon Series returning to Australian shores next month for the first time since the 2018 ITU Gold Coast Grand Final.

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