Top triathletes finding Hauser is a kid no more
MATT Hauser will go into day two of Super League Triathlon Jersey ranked sixth and still in the hunt for the overall win.
The Gold Coast triathlete is the highest-ranked Australian with 12 points and within range of Norwegian Kristian Blummenfelt, who finished yesterday’s racing in first on 25 points.
Hauser was a wildcard in the maiden Super League at Hamilton Island in March but has since won a junior world title and world mixed relay championship in a year where he made his elite World Triathlon Series debut.
The 19-year-old’s success at Hamilton Island secured his place at Jersey and Hauser credited the experience with his ability to come to the second event prepared to match it with the best in the world.
“I learnt a lot from competing with the world’s best at Super League Hamilton Island,” Hauser said.
“With some more races and wins under my belt since then, I think I’m better able to take them on again here in Jersey.”
The first of the two-day Jersey competition featured a triple-mix format that switched the discipline order of the 300m swim, 5km bike and 2km run course over three races.
The margin between the winner of each race and his rivals determined when each triathlete began the next race.
Today’s racing will be an eliminator format over three stages where athletes who finish below a certain threshold are excluded from the next race.
Hauser recorded an overall time of 1 hour 2 minutes and 55 seconds over the three races on the opening day, 2:55 behind Blummenfelt, who was ahead of Super League Hamitlon Island winner Richard Murray and Jonathan Brownlee.
Aaron Royle was the next best Australian yesterday, finishing ninth, while Jake Birtwhistle (10th), Ryan Fisher (11th) and Ryan Bailie (40th) also competed.
Charlotte McShane finished in 34th in the women’s triple-mix yesterday while Emma Jeffcoat ended the day in 36th.