The Grand Final Edmonton Age Group Spotlight

by Lisa Pringle on 28 Aug, 2014 10:38 • Español
The Grand Final Edmonton Age Group Spotlight

Nearly 3,000 age group athletes from 73 countries have flocked to Edmonton to represent their country in the Sprint (750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run) and Standard distance (1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run) events. They will be the centrepiece of the weeklong championship program.

They are the best of the best and fought hard to earn the right to compete for their country and achieve their own personal best. The hard work is all done and it’s their time to shine.

The age group sprint race will go off at 9:30am on Friday. Click here for international times.
The age group standard race will go off at 7:30am on Monday. Click here for international times.

As expected the home nation, Canada have sent the largest team with 790 athletes, USA second with 587 and Great Britain 383. We have competitors as young as 15 years to our most senior participant at 86 years of age.

But for some that road has thrown up even more challenges they’ve had to conquer just to take their place on the start line.

New Zealand’s Kylie Cox is one of those inspirational stories.

For the 37-year-old mother of two 18 months ago depression became something Kylie could not overlook much longer.  She looked to new goals to combat the illness.  Triathlon was the perfect fit with its multi disciplines and outdoor focus with swim, bike and run.

She completed Challenge Wanaka Half with the support of her husband and close friend who then encouraged her to qualify for the Olympic distance world championships team.

“I signed up for both qualifying races and joined up with my Coach, Sam Warriner at Sweat7 and am now in Edmonton! Incredibly my three year goal has come to fruition in just one year.”

Cox says the renewed confidence and enjoyment she has taken out of her involvement in triathlon has been immense.

“I have enjoyed every minute of it and have made some amazing new friends through the sport.  Whilst juggling training with family life has its challenges it has also made me appreciate the simple things.  My confidence has grown and it has given me faith to give other things in life a go as well, it has just been awesome.”

Kylie will see those world championship dreams come to reality when she lines up in the 35 to 39 age group in the Standard distance World Championships

There are many medal chances across all categories that will be hotly contested and we’ve featured just a few of the top contenders.

Germany’s Hans Peter Grünebach is an accomplished athlete across all distances and has amassed a list of results the envy of many. He kicked off his 2014 world championship campaign collecting a bronze medal in the Aquathlon here in Edmonton, adding to his gold won and the European championship. He will now take on the Sprint distance event in the 65-69-age category.

In 2014 Peter has finished third at the Sprint distance European Championship, fourth at the Standard distance and looking for that elusive gold medal to add to his collection.

Teammate Margit Bartsch is another medal hopeful for Germany. She finished fourth in London last year in the 50-55 and the current European champion moves up into the 60-64 in Edmonton making her one of the top chances.

Great Britain dominated the medal tally in London and sent a 400 strong team to Edmonton. They are the second largest team with no less than six returning medallists. Joyce Mark (55-59) and Steve Mckeown (45-49) won gold in Hyde Park last year and Jacqui Phillips (45-49) and Peggy Crome (70-74) are reigning silver medallists.

Peggy has already been in action at this year’s World Championships winning silver in the aquathlon races yesterday and knowing Peggy we are sure she will be aiming to step onto that podium once more.

Michael Smallwood (65-69) is another athlete who competed in yesterday’s aquathlon finishing fifth and having won a bronze medal in the sprint distance race last year, will be one to watch. Michael will also have one eye on the standard distance race on Monday, in which he also competes.

The final returning medallist is Paul Ryman (30-34) who won bronze back in London’s iconic Hyde Park and like Michael, he will also be racing in the standard distance race.

The standard distance race takes place on Monday 1 September and will also feature a number or returning medallists with Christopher Owens (60-64) our only returning champion.  Arnott Kidd (80+) won silver in the 75-79 category last year and despite moving up age-groups is a regular medallist at major Championships and will be confident of another medal-winning performance.

Penny Rother (55-59) also competes having won bronze back in 2013 and joins a team of 166 athletes in action on Monday.

Returning medallist, American Ellen Hart (55-59) has set herself a massive schedule, taking on all three events in Edmonton – Aquathlon, Sprint and Standard distance races. She will then back up to take her place at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships followed by the full Ironman in Hawaii a week later. And to top all of that off will competed in the New York Marathon.

The Sprint distance event gets underway from 9.30am on Friday and the Standard distance on Monday from 7.30am.

Related Event: 2014 ITU World Triathlon Grand Final Edmonton
29 - 01 Sep, 2014 • event pageall results
Results: Elite Men
1. Alistair Brownlee GBR 01:48:44
2. Mario Mola ESP 01:49:04
3. Javier Gomez Noya ESP 01:49:07
4. Jonathan Brownlee GBR 01:49:22
5. Joao Pereira POR 01:49:44
Results: Elite Women
1. Gwen Jorgensen USA 02:00:05
2. Andrea Hansen NZL 02:00:21
3. Nicky Samuels NZL 02:00:31
4. Sarah True USA 02:01:20
5. Aileen Reid IRL 02:01:21
Results: U23 Men
1. Dorian Coninx FRA 01:53:06
2. Marc Austin GBR 01:53:20
3. Gordon Benson GBR 01:53:30
4. Simon Viain FRA 01:53:46
5. Marten Van Riel BEL 01:53:56
Results: U23 Women
1. Sophia Saller GER 02:04:52
2. Gillian Backhouse AUS 02:05:25
3. Erin Storie USA 02:06:59
4. Kirsten Kasper USA 02:07:33
5. Leonie Periault FRA 02:07:48
Results: Junior Men
1. Raphael Montoya FRA 00:56:27
2. Jacob Birtwhistle AUS 00:56:28
3. Calvin Quirk AUS 00:56:45
4. Lasse Nygaard Priester GER 00:56:50
5. Russell Pennock CAN 00:57:05
Results: Junior Women
1. Laura Lindemann GER 01:02:35
2. Cassandre Beaugrand FRA 01:02:38
3. Audrey Merle FRA 01:02:44
4. Sophie Coldwell GBR 01:03:37
5. Avery Evenson USA 01:03:44
Results: Mixed U23-Junior Relay
1. Team I Great Britain GBR 01:22:58
2. Team I Australia AUS 01:23:21
3. Team I Canada CAN 01:23:50
4. Team I Germany GER 01:24:54
5. Team I Italy ITA 01:25:08
Related articles
  • Press Conference Highlights
    Jodie Stimpson, Gwen Jorgensen, Jonathan Brownlee and Javier Gomez preview their performances.
    10:21 - 28 Aug, 2014
  • Kiwis dominate Aquathlon World Championships
    The first of the world champions were crowned on Wednesday as the kick off to a week of action at the TransCanada Corp. World Triathlon Grand Final Edmonton, with Kiwis taking three gold medals.
    09:34 - 27 Aug, 2014
  • Championship title decided at Grand Final
    Elite racing returns to the City of Champions in Edmonton this weekend, and after seven races across five continents the champion will be decided in the final race.
    09:28 - 27 Aug, 2014
  • New champion to be named in elite women's race
    After a season filled with thrills and spills, triumphs and tough setbacks, the naming of the next women’s elite World Champion all comes down to Edmonton.
    11:51 - 26 Aug, 2014
  • Best of paratriathlon compete in Edmonton
    Paratriathlon's most elite athletes will compete on Saturday in an attempt to call themselves the fastest in the world in their sport classes.
    07:38 - 26 Aug, 2014
  • Junior athletes ready to shine in Edmonton
    ITU Junior triathlon stars will feature on day one of triathlon racing on Friday with the men and women racing for glory over the sprint distance course 750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run.
    07:30 - 26 Aug, 2014
  • Under23 start lists brimming with talented athletes
    The men’s and women’s Under23 start lists are riddled with brimming talent at the World Triathlon Edmonton Grand Final that have already been making waves amongst the elites this year.
    08:14 - 26 Aug, 2014
  • Aquathlon kicks off World Championships Week
    The 2014 Edmonton ITU Aquathlon World Championships will kick start the week-long Edmonton Grand Final program. Elite, under23, juniors, paratriathletes and age group competitors will contest the Aquathlon titles
    07:43 - 25 Aug, 2014
  • Edmonton Grand Final: More than just racing
    Athletes, families and friends have already begun to pour into Edmonton to prepare for their most epic event ever. But racing isn’t all there is in store this week. Check out the list of activities that’s going on around town.
    09:00 - 25 Aug, 2014
  • Edmonton Grand Final: How to follow the action
    Whether you will be on site in Edmonton to watch the races first hand or are cheering on your loved ones from home, here’s how you can follow the #WTSEdmonton action.
    08:16 - 24 Aug, 2014
Tracker Pixel for Entry