World Class Women's Field Set to Sizzle at Takapuna

Takapuna hosts the latest round of the Contact Tri Series this Sunday with the women’s elite event over the super sprint distance set to steal the show with a world class gathering of competitors.

The field is headed by current world number 5 Barbara Riveros Diaz (Chile) who along with Kate Roberts (South Africa) and South Koreans A Reum Jo and Dan Bi Hong provide the international opposition for leading New Zealanders Kate McIlroy (Wellington) and Debbie Tanner (Auckland).

Add to that the emerging talent of Teresa Adam (Auckland) and current U19 World Champion Mikayla Nielsen (Waikato) and a host of the country’s top U19 and U23 athletes and you have a mouth watering prospect for Sunday afternoon’s race around the Takapuna CBD.

McIlroy will go in as the top rated Kiwi following her dominant display in winning the New Zealand and Oceania sprint titles in Kinloch a fortnight ago. The world number 17 says Riveros will clearly be the one to watch.

“I always enjoy racing Takapuna, the tight criterium style course through the main street of Takapuna gives the race a unique atmosphere which makes racing really exciting. 

“I have been doing some pretty high volume over the last few months so it will be nice to come out and give the legs a spin over a distance that is so short and fast. It’s a pretty high quality field with Barbara and Debbie, who will definitely keep the race honest - I know Barbara has a lethal kick, so will be watching her closely!

“Winning Kinloch 2 weeks ago was a great confidence boost and a good indicator that things are moving in the right direction, I just want to keep the momentum rolling.”

Local athlete Debbie Tanner for her part is coming off a painful illness but some emergency dental surgery and a visit to the Weetbix Kiwi Kids Tryathlon has got her back on track as she aims up to qualify in the New Zealand team for the London Olympic Games.

“I was pretty lucky that this didn't happen the day of the Kinloch race as the very next day I woke up with a raging toothache, all the way home the pain just increased so it was off to the dentist the next day. They wanted me to wait a week to get a root canal done, but I ended up in the emergency dentist the next day, it was literally two days of the worst pain of my life!

“I started up a course of antibiotics and had to wait for those to kick in for the infection to clear before the pain started to ease and thank god it did.  Once the pressure was taken off I started to feel myself again,  missing a couple of days training was never in the plan but when situations like this arise you have to make sure your smart about how you deal with it. 

“I have also been down to Hamilton and Hastings for the Weetbix Kiwi Kids Tryathlon events; these are pretty inspiring to see how many kids cross the finish line with smiles on their faces and kids of all different abilities giving it a go.

“I’m really looking forward to racing Takapuna as it is a local race for me and I love the format of the racing.  There are a few quality internationals racing again, led by Barbara, and of course the kiwi girls are showing they are also in good form, I am looking to go well in front of a home crowd and have them inspire me this weekend.”

Racing is over a super sprint format with competitors swimming 500m, cycling 16km and running 4.2km around the tight multi-lap Takapuna circuit. Public will get great views of the athletes from many vantage points along Hurstmere Road and on the beach front reserve.