Taranaki triathletes win big at Mt Maunganui

Six Taranaki triathletes who competed at a national triathlon have secured themselves a spot at the World triathlon competition.

The New Zealand distance triathlon championships were held in Mount Maunganui and included a 1500-metre swim, 40km cycle and 10km run.

Joy Baker, Lauren Hann, Julie Morgan, Shorty Clark, Kevin Hann and John Forrest all finished in under three and a half hours securing a spot at the World Distance Triathlon Championships in Pontevedra, Spain in September next year.

‘‘I was very pleased with my race, I won by 22 minutes,’’ Baker said.

In the female race, Baker received gold in the 70-74 year old age division with a time of 3hr 3min while Hann competed in the 65 to 69 age division and finished in 3hr 21min, winning silver. Morgan competed in the 55 to 59 age division and placed fourth with a time of 2hr 52min.

‘‘I was very pleased with my race, I won by 22 minutes.’’

In the male race, Clark competed in the 70 to 74 age division with a time of 2hr 32min and won gold. Hann competed in the 70 to 74 age division in a time of 3hr 20min and won bronze. Forrest won bronze in the 50 to 54-yearold age division with a time of 2hr 15min.