Jaz’s eyes on elites after improvement
JAZ Hedgeland says she is ready to step into the world of elite triathlon racing full-time next year after securing seventh in an under-23 world championship field featuring Olympians and World Triathlon Series victors.
The Gold Coast-based triathlete produced the best of her three appearances at the ITU under-23 world championship races yesterday in her home city.
“I’m hoping this will set me up for switching to the elites next year,” Australia’s top emerging female triathlete said following her performance in the standard distance event featuring a 1.5km swim, 40km bike ride and 10km run.
“It was no field to shake your head at. I’m happy I held my ground and I’m really looking forward to mixing it with the elites and taking another step forward next year.”
Hedgeland was in the hunt for a medal from the start.
The 23-year-old came out of the water with the leaders and had her sights firmly on US triathlete Taylor Knibb, who has competed in WTS races this year, and French representative Cassandre Beaugrand who featured at the 2016 Rio Olympics and won the WTS Hamburg in July this year.
But in the chaos of the first transition Knibb got a slight gap and it was all she needed to dominate the race while Beaugrand ran to second.
“They were the best in the field coming into the race,” Hedgeland said.
“I was really happy to have a good swim. I was on the third or fourth wheel (out of transition) and I knew Taylor was going to attack. Someone in front of me went to put their feet in their shoes and it gave Taylor a 5m gap. The next thing she was gone.
“I tried to accelerate but she is one strong chick.”
Hedgeland has battled ITB friction syndrome and hamstring tendinopathy in the past year but turned up ready to put it all on the line.
Meanwhile, 20-year-old sister Kira, who finished 27th in the same race, was happy to just be racing after breaking her collarbone in a race less than two months ago.
“I was pretty certain just over two months ago there was no chance of me racing at all,” Hedgeland said.
“From the get go I’ve been so happy to be here.”
Fellow Gold Coaster Brandon Copeland, 22, was the top Aussie in the under-23 men, finishing 12th in a result he was very proud of.
“That was a tough day,” he said. “It was one of the most all-time brutal swims.”
Gold Coast’s Kye Wylde finished in 26th.