Blatchford finishes up in Kona
GOLD Coast’s newest professional triathlete is poised to make his debut at Australia’s oldest event before shifting his focus towards the Noosa Triathlon.
Banora Point resident Travis Coleman will compete in the Nepean Triathlon, consisting of a 1km swim, 30km bike ride and 10km run, on October 28 at the Penrith-based Sydney International Regatta Centre.
It’s a race made famous by some of Australia’s greatest triathletes, with the likes of Olympians Courtney Atkinson, Aaron Royle, Jake Birtwhistle and 2016 Ironman 70.3 World Champion Tim Reed all past winners of the event.
“It’s been about five years since I decided this is what I want to do and now that I have my pro licence it’s a real surreal feeling,” Coleman said. “It’s pumped me up so much more for training.
“I’m stoked to be able to make my debut at Nepean. It’s got such a rich history and if you get a top 10 there you have proven yourself.
“I thought I’d have a crack and I’m fairly confident I can go top 15 and maybe go close to top 10. That would be amazing.”
Coleman qualified for his professional licence in March this year after being the fastest age group triathlete at the event.
The 21-year-old put off applying for his professional licence until after competing at the ITU World Triathlon Age Group Championships, held on the Gold Coast in September.
Coleman finished fourth in the male 20-24 age category for the 1.5km swim, 40km bike ride and 10km run standard distance event. Coleman hopes to back up from the Nepean race by competing in the Noosa Triathlon, the largest standard distance triathlon in the world, on November 4.
“I’ve never raced at Noosa as it usually sells out the day it opens,” Coleman said.
“To not only get a chance to race it, but to race against the professionals in front of such a big crowd would be a great experience.” TRIATHLETE Liz Blatchford has drawn the curtains on her distinguished ironman career with a 12th place finish at the World Championships.
The Gold Coast triathlete finished the gruelling 3.8km swim, 180km bike ride and 42.2km run in Kona, Hawaii, on Sunday in a time of nine hours six minutes and 19 seconds in what was her fourth and final ironman world title apperance.
Swiss triathlete Daniela Ryf won the world title, crossing in a time of (8:26.16).
Blatchford (pictured) overcame a tough preparation for the world’s highest profile endurance race, battling stress injuries including a stress fracture in her lower back and a calf tear throughout the year.
The 38-year-old, born in England but raised in Perth, has been involved in triathlon since the age of 14 and first put her name in lights in the ITU World Triathlon Series.
Blatchford claimed 10 podium finishes across the WTS and ITU World Cups before transitioning into long distance racing in 2012, where she went on to finish third at the Ironman World Championships twice (2013, 2015).
Byron Bay triathlete Tim Van Berkel also finished 12th at the world titles after crossing in a time of 8:13.47, while Tim Reed (8:19.13) finished in 18th.