ATHLETE TIPPING RECORDS TO FALL

RECORDS could fall at the Townsville Triathlon and Multisport Festival on the weekend, says a well-known local endurance athlete.

Sam Steadman, who has run in a host of triathlon festivals, says ideal conditions combined with the flat course circuit could help the competition set new personal records and even push past race records.

Local and visiting athletes, including race favourites Connor Mackay and Brittany Saunders, will hit the classic triathlon circuit tomorrow at 7.45am.

“It’s really great timing with our current weather, and hopefully it stays that way over the weekend,” Mr Steadman said.

“The course is so spectacular and it’s a really fast course for the ‘roadies’, and that’s a feature of the course that a lot of competitors enjoy.

“Hopefully we get flat conditions in the water for a good swim.

“What makes it different is that it’s a two-lap course that goes past Jezzine Barracks and past features like the Rockpool, Pallarenda and The Strand, so the atmosphere is incredible for everyone taking part.”

Last year’s men’s winner Max Neumann, from the Gold Coast, will not return for this year’s festival, but Mr Steadman said there was still plenty of top-tier talent racing across the two days of competition.

“There’s going to be some really tough competition because of the calibre of athletes we’ll have racing here,” he said.

The Townsville Triathlon and Multisport Festival, which acts as a qualifier for the World Age Group Triathlon Championships, also features the inaugural “Off Road” weekend across August 24-25, which includes trail running, mountain biking and a kids’ offroad race.

“We saw how successful the Townsville Running Festival was, so it’s great to see people just getting out there in their own backyard,” Mr Steadman said. “People travel here as well, so there’s the economic benefit to the city.

“We’ll have Triathlon Australia here and Townsville is hosting the 2021 ITU Multisport World Championships, so this is our chance to show off Townsville again.”

This weekend’s action includes the classic-distance triathlon, the kids’ triathlon and the elite mile.

Tomorrow’s race briefing is at 7am, followed by the start of racing from 7.15am.

>>For more information go to

townsvilletrifestival.org.au