Young gun Copeland to make WTS debut
BRANDON Copeland will tune up for next month’s under-23 ITU World Triathlon Championships by taking on the best the sport has to offer.
The Kingscliff triathlete has been named to make his World Triathlon Series debut in Stockholm tomorrow.
Racing in the 1500m swim, 40km bike ride and 10km run will is another huge step forward for the 21-year-old who has bounced back from a broken wrist suffered earlier this year to put together the biggest season of his young career.
“It was definitely a surprise to get a call up for Stockholm but I’m really excited,” he said.
“It was great to have coach Dan Atkins there guiding me through that tough period, and we never ruled out the possibility of making the under-23 worlds team.
“With that goal in mind we did everything we could and I did some races in Asia that we believed would give myself the best chance of qualifying for the team.
“I’ve just spent two weeks in Vitoria Gasteiz with Dan and Jamie Turner and can’t wait to give it my all in my first WTS this weekend.”
Copeland will use the race to enhance his preparation for the under-23 world championships, to be held on September 15 in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Fellow Aussies Aaron Royle and Marcel Walkington join Copeland in the men’s field while Gold Coaster Ashleigh Gentle is in the women’s race with Natalie Van Coevorden.
Gentle, coming off a maiden WTS win in Montreal, sits second in the world rankings.
“I’ve never competed there so it was one which has been on the race plan since the start of the year,” Gentle said.
“I’ve heard the bike course is quite demanding and I have watched it in previous years. I’m really looking forward to testing myself. The race is three weeks before Rotterdam, so it will be my last hit out before the grand final.”
Meanwhile, Queensland triathletes, including Siblings Jack, Lachlan and Tara Sosinski, Lachlan and Bianca Jones, have been named to compete in the national junior and youth series.
Charlie Jurd and Bradley Course have also been named in the under-14 team.