Race Updates

The Sunshine Coast Triathlon Academy / Protector Aluminium Junior Athletes performed extremely well at National schools Triathlon Championships
 
The National Schools Triathlon Champs in Penrith, saw some extremely fast and furious racing in all age categories over the draft legal format over the following distances in Senior (750/20/5), Intermediate (600/16/4) and Junior (400/12/3).
 
SCTA / Protector Aluminium Junior Scholarship holders, Ryan Marsh and Kaya Shults were in action along with Romy Wolstencroft and Jazzy Shults. Day 1 was the individual races. 
 
Run Sensation Romy Wolstencroft the defending Qld Champion performed extremely well and had one of those famous runs from behind. After a solid swim she was 1 min 20 secs down on the eventual winner Jess Claxton from WA. Once on the bike we saw the lead diminish throughout the rest of the race. By the end of the 4-lap cycle course Romy exited the transition with a 1-minute deficit. Once the shoes were on she passed the girls one by one to eventually run herself into 2nd place only 26 seconds behind the winner. 

The pocket rocket Jazzy Shults had an absolute blinder of a race. It was set up by a great swim that saw her exit with the lead girls. A pack of 5 girls raced hard over the 2-lap cycle course staying together till they got off the bike. Once on the run we saw Jazzy settle into a good rhythm and slowing worked her way into the race and passing all but 2 girls in front of her to make her  with a 3rd place. She still has another year in this category. The smile was beaming after the race. Was great to see her execute the race to the plan.
 
Swim Machine Kaya Shults dominated up front with the lead girls out of the swim. The decision to go out alone or wait for the chase pack of 5 girls to catch was in the back of her mind. The decision was to wait and work with them. The hard thing was one of the dominant runners was in the pack. The lead girls work well together to come off with a 40 sec lead over the chase pack that contained 2 extremely strong runners. Kaya had a good transition and worked her way onto the run. She had a strong run to come away with 8th place.
 
The quiet assassin Ryan Marsh came into the race with great form. The junior males were always going to be a fast affair with some great athletes in here. The swim was going to be the key and Ryan had a slightly off day just missing the 2nd pack, which we were hoping he would make. A bike crash from a fellow competitor in front of him created a bit of confusion in the chase pack, which split into 2.  Ryan rode strongly to be in a good place off the bike but unfortunately he suffered with a few stiches, which hampered his progress on the first lap of the run. Once into his rhythm on the 2nd lap he looked a lot better and ran himself into 11th place.

Day 2 included the Team Relays in a mixed format of 2 females and 2 males in each team with the females first then males and so on in a draft legal format once again. The Teams consisted of Senior / Intermediate / Junior and an All Age Team.
 
We had some great performances once again and the disappointments for some from yesterday’s races were able to come back and show what they were able to do. This is fast and furious at its best with a 300m swim, 5km cycle and finish off with a 1.5km run then tag the next athlete. The focus point was the run and dive into the water from the podium in front of the grandstand.
 
Jazzy Shults was in the Junior Team. She had a great start in the swim to exit with the leaders and make their way thru the one lap cycle course. She exited T2 with heavy legs from her race yesterday but still ran strongly to pass the baton on. Their team went on to win the Junior Relay Title.

Ryan Marsh was in the All Age Relay Team and was tagged and entered the water with a few older athletes. He had a much better swim today and moved thru strongly on the bike and finished off with a great run. He had the fastest recorded Junior Male time on the day. Their Team went on to finish 4th Place.
 
Kaya Shults lined up in the Intermediate Team and was the lead off. She had a blinder of a swim that had her exited the water with a sizable lead over a short distance. Unfortunately the teams behind all exited the water at the same time and were able to ride her down. She looked a lot stronger in the run today and held on to take her next team member. Their team went on to finish 5th Place.
 
Romy Wolstencroft lined up in the Senior Team. She entered the water as the 3rd person of the team and had a bit of work to do. She was able to gain time on her fellow competitors during her leg and finished it off with a strong run. Her Team went on to finish 5th Place.
 
Queensland Team was once again dominant and took out all 3 trophies, The Individual, The Teams and the Overall title. When done to all and especially the SCTA Juniors.
 
National schools Triathlon Championships Penrith – 20.04.17
Romy Wolstencroft – 2nd Place Senior Female
Jazzy Shults – 3rd Place Junior Female
Kaya Shults – 8th Place Intermediate Female
Ryan Marsh – 11th Place Junior Male
Teams Relay – 21.04.17
Jazzy Shults – 1st Place Junior Mixed Team
Ryan Marsh – 4th Place All Age Mixed Team
Kaya Shults – 5th Place Intermediate Mixed Team
Romy Wolstencroft – 5th Place Senior Mixed Team