Kiwi Triathletes To Race At Spiritual Home Of The Sport

San Diego is the next stop on the ITU World Triathlon Series circuit, with the best in the world descending on the location where it all started in 39 years ago. Racing will take in a 2 lap swim course, an 8 lap bike course focused on Mission Bay Drive and a 3 lap run course on Oceanfront Walk and Bayfront Walk surrounding Mission Boulevard. The venue is adjacent to Fiesta Island, which hosted the world's first-ever triathlon on September 25, 1974.

A small but strong New Zealand representation will be on the start line in the elite races, with the women racing on Friday (10.30am on Saturday NZT) and the men on Saturday (11am Sunday NZT). Andrea Hewitt will be the sole Kiwi in the women’s race while Ryan Sissons, Clark Ellice and Bryce McMaster will line up in the men’s.

Hewitt is looking to bounce back from the disappointment of a 15th place finish in the opening round at the Barfoot & Thompson ITU World Triathlon event in Auckland a fortnight ago, when the 2012 world number 3 was found to be suffering from concussion after a bike crash earlier in the week.

“I've been training at a great facility in Chula Vista at The Olympic Training Center for the past 10 days,” said Hewitt. “I am feeling better every day and recovering from my bike crash I suffered just days before the last World Triathlon race in Auckland. I won't know until I'm in the actual race in San Diego, how far I have recovered and if two weeks has been enough time.”

Ryan Sissons is likewise looking to improve on a disappointing race in Auckland, when a slipping chain cost the Kiwi number one any chance of maintaining contact on the tough bike course and left nothing in the tank for the run.

“If I can swim bike and run with no issues it will be great. Wellington I didn’t start, then Auckland I had the issues on the bike, I just want the chance to race. I have been training well and worked on a whole lot of different things in the off season, it would be great to get to put them to use in the race, instead of trying to get back into a position when I could affect the outcome.

“Since Auckland I have stayed at home, just ticking through training. I raced well here last year and secured my position for the London Games and I enjoy the place. There will be a different atmosphere as I and plenty of others were racing to secure spots in London last year but this year will be different, a little less frantic – there was a lot of looking at other athletes last year, this year it is a pure race.”

Clark Ellice was the second best Kiwi in Auckland behind Tony Dodds - who is not racing in San Diego as he recovers from a crash in Ishigaki last weekend.

The Taranaki triathlete is eyeing up a career best performance.

“I enjoyed a nice week at home to recoup from Auckland and refocus on training and getting ready for this race,” said Ellice. “I have freshened up nicely with a week at home just the tonic before setting flight for six months away.

“It is great to have Campbell Mattson back on board to back me with Location Homes supporting me again this year. Campbell and Location Homes backed me my airfares with an around the world ticket so are a huge support in my campaign this year.

“My form is great going into this weekend and a beach start is always a bonus for these former surf lifesaver legs to wade out to the front and settle in to the swim. I’m looking forward to gunning for a single digit finish in a World Triathlon Series event at an amazing location.”

Like Sissons, 23 year old McMaster had issues on the bike leg in Auckland, being brought down in someone else’s crash riding up Shortland Street, leaving his quads a little worse for wear after contact with the handlebars. He continues to race in elite company with the goal of picking up vital experience as he emerges into the top tier of the sport in 2013.

The men’s field features a clash between the two best in the world with Olympic gold medallist Alistair Brownlee (GBR) up against Javier Gomez (ESP), along with a support cast that includes Laurent Vidal (FRA), Mario Mola (ESP), Richard Murray (SAF), Joao Silva (POR), Jan Frodeno (GER) and a host of others capable of standing on the podium.

The women’s field is no less deep, featuring Auckland winner Anne Haug (GER), Felicity Abram (AUS), Barbara Riveros Diaz (CHI), Jessica Harrison (FRA) and first appearances of the season for Emma Moffatt (AUS) and Paula Findlay (CAN) who returns after injury wrecked her 2012 campaign.

ITU World Triathlon Series
San Diego, USA
Friday, 3.30pm Elite Women (10.30am Saturday NZT)
Saturday, 4.00pm Elite Men (11am Sunday NZT)