Australian Elite ITU World Championship team announced

Triathlon Australia Media Release: Australia’s London Olympic trio Erin Densham, Emma Moffatt and Emma Jackson will join a new look men’s team to form the nucleus of an exciting group of nine athletes named today by Triathlon Australia for next month’s ITU World Triathlon Championships in London.

Beijing Olympic bronze medallist and two-time World Champion Moffatt (Seventh on the current ITU WTS Rankings) will return to the 2012 Olympic City determined to erase the memory which saw her crash out of contention on the sticky road surface early on in the bike in last year’s race.

Jackson, a former ITU World U23 Champion, is also looking forward to her return to the scene of her Olympic debut after returning to form with an outstanding performance at the ITU “mountain climb” in Kitzbuehel.

While London Olympic bronze medallist Densham has emerged as the X Factor on the Australian team after easing her way back into competition following the best year of her career in 2012, with limited major race preparation.

But it was a determined Densham who produced a stunning performance to become Australia’s fifth Olympic podium finisher “joining Michellie Jones (Silver 2000); Loretta Harrop (Silver 2004); Emma Snowsill (Gold 2008) and Moffatt (Bronze 2008).

The other two women, Felicity Abram (10th on the ITU WTS Rankings) and Ashleigh Gentle (the highest placed Australian in sixth place on the ITU WTS Rankings) have both had consistent seasons and will make up yet another outstanding group of Australian women, all capable of a podium finish on their day.

The four-strong men’s team will see the World Championship return of Dan Wilson (42nd on the ITU Rankings) after three years plagued with injury; the first Elite team selection for reigning Under 23 World Champion Aaron Royle (13th on the ITU WTS Rankings) who has made a remarkable recovery from pneumonia and his Wollongong-based training partner Ryan Bailie (the highest placed Australian in 12th on the ITU WTS Rankings) and the inclusion of a deserved debutant in Cameron Good (22nd on the ITU WTS Rankings)

All athletes have the carrot of automatic Commonwealth Games selection for Glasgow next year on their minds if they are the top placed Australian in the top eight.

Triathlon Australia’s National Performance Director Bernard Savage is excited with the team chosen to represent Australia in London between September 11 and 15.

“The selection philosophy was to pick athletes who have demonstrated performances during the ITU World Triathlon Series as potential top 25 finishers in London,” Savage said.

“The selectors feel they have picked the athletes capable of achieving this.

“In the men both Aaron and Ryan were automatic selections after their top ten results in the WTS while Cameron was close to automatic with his 10th and 11th placings.

“Dan Wilson showed enough to convince the selectors in Yokohama and Hamburg that he was worthy of a discretionary spot.

“Unfortunately the selectors could not find places for either Brendan Sexton or Peter Kerr, who have both had disrupted seasons.

“Both Brendan and Peter had late starts to their international seasons through injury in Brendan’s case and illness in Peter’s case and unfortunately they have just run out of time.

“Peter had an outstanding domestic season with good results in Mooloolaba, Geelong and Devonport but his appendectomy which robbed him of a start in San Diego was just rotten luck.

“Brendan missed the domestic season through injury and is only just starting to get a roll on now and just didn’t get the runs on the board.

“They are both very talented athletes and can still put themselves in line for Commonwealth Games selection with strong performances in the racing they have planned for the rest of the season and early next year.

“They will both remain an important part of the High Performance program going forward.”

Savage said he was particularly excited about his women’s team with Abram, Moffatt, Gentle and Jackson all automatic selections with Olympic bronze medallist Erin Densham the only discretionary pick.

“Three of the girls have all produced WTS podium finishes throughout the season and Densham, who had an emotional year in 2012 both physically and emotionally has had a slower start to the season with my blessing,” Savage said.

“But she remains the X factor here and has shown she is capable of producing a brilliant one off performance and I’m more than confident she can produce a great result in London.

“Abram started the season really well with a podium in Auckland; Moffatt has been on the podium twice, Jackson once and Gentle has had a consistent season after recovering from injury.

“Any of these girls are capable of top eight or top 10 finishes. If any of them are within striking distance off the bike, they are all such good runners, then anything is possible.”

Australian Elite Triathlon Team 2013 ITU London World Triathlon Championships, London, September 11-15

Women:

Felicity Abram (QLD)

Ashleigh Gentle (QLD)

Erin Densham (VIC)

Emma Moffatt (QLD)

Emma Jackson (QLD)

Men:

Aaron Royle (NSW)

Ryan Bailie (NSW)

Cameron Good (NSW)

Dan Wilson (QLD)

Australian Under 23 Triathlon Team – 2013 ITU London World Triathlon Championships

Under 23 Women:

Natalie van Coevorden (NSW)

Charlotte McShane (NSW)

Tamsyn Moana-Veale (NSW)

Grace Musgrove (National Talent Academy, NSW)

Under 23 Men:

Declan Wilson (National Talent Academy, ACT)

Ryan Fisher (QAS, QLD)

Matt Brown (QAS, QLD)

Australian Junior Triathlon Team – 2013 ITU London World Triathlon Championships

Junior Women

Jodie Duff (National Talent Academy, QLD)

Holly Grice (QLD)

Jaz Hedgeland (National Talent Academy, WA)

Reserve: Sophie Malowiecki (National Talent Academy QLD)

Junior Men

Jacob Birtwhistle (National Talent Academy, TAS)

Joel Tobin-White (VIS, VIC)

Luke Willian (QAS, QLD)

Reserve: Matt Baker (National Talent Academy, NSW)