What a weekend of action for the Sunshine Coast Triathlon Academy / Protector Aluminum Athletes at Round # 1 of the National Junior Series at Runaway Bay for the Super Sprint Race Weekend. With over 170 of the nations top juniors in action, the race was just as furious and the pace was definetly on over the 3 days of racing for ITU JUniors and 2 days for ITU Youth A + B.

The format is very different to the normal triathlon protocal where the swims where done in a pool with seperate heats, the cycle was done on the Luke Harrop Criterium Track and the runs where done on the 400m athletic track at the Super Centre.

The weekend is about gaining as many points as possible from the races prior to the finals. Which made for some very fast and furious racing with the top 18 athletes being taken into the "A" Finals. There were some PB's in the Runs and the funny thing is that is after 2 fast races leading up to it and the end of a very hectic day. To give you an idea the winner of the Mens 1km was 2.30 and the Female was 2.57 so the pace was on. Jake's 2.41 was a PB but got him 18th in the Final. Romy went 3.14 to finish 15th in the Final. Pretty impressive timers but the standard was extremely high.

Day 1
Race 1 - Aquathlon - ITU Junior - 300 / 1.6 ITU Youth A + B - 200 / 1.2
Race 2 - Criterium - ITU Junior - 6km,  ITU Youth A + B - 4km - Both Lemans start with 300m run to start and finish off with
Race 3 - Run - ITU Junior - 1km,  ITU Youth A + B - 800m - Heats and Finals

Day 2
Race 4 - Triathlon - ITU Junior - 300/6/1.6,  ITU Youth A + B - 200/4/1.2
Race 5 - Triathlon - ITU Junior - 200/4/1.2,  ITU Youth A + B - 200/4/1.2 - Finals

Day 3
Race 6 - Triathlon - ITU Junior - 400/8/2.4 - Finals 

Jake Hynes - Junior Male (54 competitors) Heat and Final - 17th Place on Points
Race # 1 - 9th Place
Race # 2 - 13th Place
Race # 3 - 18th Place
Race # 4 - 16th Place
Race # 5 - 10th Place
Race # 6 - "A "Final - 15th Place
2 years ago Jake lined up in the "D" Final at this race. FAst forward and we saw Jake in the "A" Final. He gained valuable lessons and experience that showed from how and what he had and had not been doing in training. It showed that he needs to believe in himself when he needs it. Each time he got on that line he gave what he could and to see the progression over the 2 years shows the level he is at with plenty more room for improvement that will make him a better athlete.

Romy Wolstencroft - Junior Female (32 competitors) Heat and Final - 16th Place on Points
Race # 1 - 7th Place
Race # 2 - 4th Place
Race # 3 - 15th Place
Race # 4 - 18th Place
Race # 5 - 14th Place
Race # 6 - "A "Final - 16th Place
This was Romy's first appearance at this weekend of racing and was always going to be dependant on how well she swam. She gave it a red hot go where the girls were all looking over her shoulder watching her run them down. In the A Final she got blown off her bike from the strong gusts of wind but still manage to get to the end of bike and chased them hard on the run passing 2 girls. Guts and detremination was shown with skin off her hip, back, shoulder and face. The helmet didn't survive that well with 3 massive cracks in it. A lot of experienced gain throughout this wekend as well and will be vital for future races.

Meg Roberts - Junior Female (32 competitors) Heat and Final - Tied 22nd Place on Points
Race # 1 - 26th Place
Race # 2 - 14th Place
Race # 3 - 20th Place
Race # 4 - 24th Place
Race # 5 - 24th Place
Race # 6 - "B "Final - 5th Place
This was Meg's first attempt at this weekend of racing and was also the youngest in the age group so found the going tough against some of the best Juniors running around in Australia. She did the best she could each time she lined up and thats all you can ask for. THe valuable experience at competing at this level will only further enhance her for future races

Kaya Shults - Youth A Female (49 competitors) Heat and Final - 11th Place on Points
Race # 1 - 9th Place
Race # 2 - 5th Place
Race # 3 - 30th Place
Race # 4 - 6th Place
Race # 5 - "A "Final - 14th Place
Kaya's skill shown thru in this weeeknd and showed the importance and how to execute these to push out a result. In some of the races, even tho draft legal, she was foirced to ride solo as she was too strong for her fellow competitors. She tried in the "A" Final to break away with some other girls but was in vein as the pack rode them pack down due to athletes not pulling their turn and was over run by the runners. Lot of experience and self confindence was taken out over the weekend that will further enhance Kaya in future races.

Macey Roberts - Youth A Female (49 competitors) Heat and Final - Tied 31st Place on Points
Race # 1 - 33rd Place
Race # 2 - 11th Place
Race # 3 - 22nd Place
Race # 4 - 42nd Place
Race # 5 - "B "Final - 3rd Place
Macey never left anything in the tank over the weekend and raced against some very fast and explosive athletes over the 2 days. It was always going to be a test of her will and she showed in the "B" Final what she was capable of with a 3rd place where she had a brilliant run to run herself into that position.

Ryan Marsh - Youth B Male (17 competitors) Straight Heat and Final - 6th Place on Points
Race # 1 - 9th Place
Race # 2 - 3rd Place
Race # 3 - 8th Place
Race # 4 - 7th Place
Race # 5 - Final - 6th Place
Ryan's first time here as well and was giving a lot of growth away to his fellow competitors. Always hard in this 12-13 Years category as the growth rates are different to each competitor. Ryan gave it his all and gained some valuable exposure to some of the top juniors in australia that will only enhance his performances in the future.

Jazzy Shults - Youth B Female (16 competitors) Straight Heat and Final - 7th Place on Points
Race # 1 - 6th Place
Race # 2 - 8th Place
Race # 3 - 10th Place
Race # 4 - 6th Place
Race # 5 - Final - 6th Place
Jazzy being the younest in a double age group performed amazingly and at times when she was running next to some of the girls looked like an episode from land of the Giants. This little pocket rocket gave it her all in her first exposure to this type of racing and will be better for it when it comes around next year.

Very Proud Coach of the achievements, results and the sportsmanship shown by this wonderful group of athletes. Looking forward to Round # 2 at Robina on 21st January.

Another successful weeeknd of race results from Sunshine Coast Triathlon Academy / Protector Aluminium athletes at QTS # 4 Raby Bay Tri, Bribie Island Triathlon Race # 3, Taupo and Ballarat 70.3.

Firstly at Queensland Triathlon Series Race # 4, we had SCTA athletes across all 4 events with some remarkable performances. Romy Wolstencroft led the charge as the Round 3 Winner but was up against some stiff competition in the Open Female Category. Romy had another strong race with a fast finishing run to be 5th, while the husband and wife team of Jordan (45-49) and Tania Gover (40-44) take out the wins in their respective categories. Mitch Baker (25-29) finished on the podium with another 2nd Place.

In the Super Sprint we saw Ryan Marsh (13 Years) have a dominate race to take out the win. Kev Hammond, returning from shoulder surgery, joined forces with the Coach Toby Coote to form 2 fat guys team and the boys deleivered with the fastest Teams on the course. Jake Hynes (16-19)continued his strong performances with 2nd and 2nd Male overall. Kayleigh Foster (13 Years) was a busy girl playing 3 days of water polo and racing on the Sunday morning in the tri to take 2nd place, while Emma Dann (14-15) finished off extremely well to take 3rd.

Also well done to the SCTA Juniors in the Enticer and Kool kids. they are always improving with each race and showing the skill development that they are learning in the races. Nice work Jake and Zak Hammond, Jemma and Paige Hynes and Scott Marsh.

Round 2 of the Bribie Island Triathlon series saw relatively calm conditions similair to QTS # 4. With SCTA athletes in the Long course and short course distances, there were some great results from the team. Melissa Charlton continued her dominace of the 35-39 with another category win, while Jessica Lee continued her podium finish in 2nd (30-34) both in the Long course. While in the short course we saw Mark Corcoran take out the win (45-49) while Marilyn Shrapnel (65-69) was 2nd.

Ballarat 70.3 turned on some cool conditions with a water temp of 15 degrees and the outside temperature a bit cooler than that. Both Kirra Seidel and Katy Duffield where lining up for their 2nd 70.3 within 2 weeks. It was always going to be a matter of recovery between the 2 events to be able to lift up again for the race. Kirra continued her podium finish with the fastest run split of the day to take 2nd place. Katy didn't have the swim she was looking for but rode and ran strongly to take 6th place. Well done Ladies.

Rounding out the long course racing was Malin Olsson who lined up at Taupo 70.3 in New Zealand. Malin had another stong race to come away with 2nd place.

QTS # 4 Raby Bay Triathlon - 11.12.16 - 900/25/6
Tania Gover - 1st Place 40-44 Years Female
Jordan Gover - 1st Place 45-49 Years Male
Mitch Baker - 2nd Place 25-29 Years Male
Romy Wolstencroft - 5th Place Open Female
Kelly Enright - 11th Place 30-34 Years Female

Super Sprint - 400/15/4
Ryan Marsh - 1st Place 13 Years Male
Kev Hammond + Toby Coote - (2 Fat Blokes) - 1st Place Male Teams
Kayleigh Foster - 2nd Place 13 Years Female
Jake Hynes - 2nd Place 16-19 Years Male
Emma Dann - 3rd Place 14-15 Years Female
Jack Dann - 7th Place 13 Years Male
Amgie Hammond - 9th Place 40-44 Years Female

Enticer - 200/5/2
Scott Marsh - 22nd Place U/14 Male

Kool Kids - 100/2/500
Jake Hammond - 7th Place 7-9 Years Male
Jemma Hynes - 9th Place 10-11 Years Female
Paige Hynes - 16th Place 10-11 Years Female
Zak Hammond - 30th Place 7-9 Years Male

Bribie Island Triathlon Race # 2 - 11.12.16 - 1/30/8
Melissa Charlton - 1st Place 35-39 Years Female
Jessica Lee - 2nd Place 30-34 Years Female

Just Tri It - 300/10/3
Mark Corcoran - 1st Place 45-49 Years Male
Marilyn Shrapnel - 2nd Place 65-69 Years Female
Selena Corcoran - 7th Place 35-39 years Female

Ballarat 70.3 - 11.12.16 - 1.9/90/21.1
Kirra Seidel - 2nd Place Professional Female
Katy Duffield - 6th Place Professional Female

Taupo 70.3 - 10.12.16 - 1.9/90/21.1
Malin Olsson - 2nd Place 40-44 Years Female

Well done to all that raced over the weekend and best of luck to the SCTA JUniors racing Round # 1 of the Australia Junior Series at Runaway Bay starting Friday morning to Sunday.