Triathlon New Zealand has today confirmed the make-up of the 2015 National Talent Squad (age 15 to 19) and named those athletes to have met the criteria for selection to the ITU World Championships in Chicago in September in both the Junior (U19) and U23 categories.
All athletes have come through rigorous selection criteria to earn their inclusion, with Triathlon New Zealand setting a high standard across all teams.
A full team of three men and three women has been named in the Junior category, along with applications being made to the ITU for extra start positions due to the depth in this age group. National Junior Champions Tayler Reid and Lizzie Stannard lead the Team, which includes four debutants among the eight athletes.
Just the one athlete has been named as a result of meeting the selection criteria in the U23 category, with Cameron Todd set to line up in the men's race in Chicago. There will be further opportunities for U23 athletes to join Todd in Chicago, with selectors revisiting performances in August following more World Cup racing.
Triathlon New Zealand High Performance Director Graeme Maw is excited to make the announcement, all the more so given the sport's investment into talent development and pathways over the past 18 months.
"We are delighted to announce such strong squads for the World Championships and National Talent Squad. With the National Talent Programme now 15 months old, we are starting to see the impact.
"Tayler Reid deservedly goes to his third World Championships; but for the likes of Dan Hoy, Kyle Smith, Lizzie Stannard and Katherine Badham, Chicago will be their first and is off the back of rapid progress. They have all been pushing each other in racing and gaining from various experiences including Japan, Youth Olympic Games, Oceania Triathlon and Duathlon Champs, World Aquathlon and the Sovereign Tri Series."
Maw says the pathways are clearly helping produce some outstanding young prospects.
"The numbers at the National Youth Festival and the recent National Schools Champs are testament to the growing depth from which the athletes for the World Champs and in the National Talent Squad have won out. The Regional Youth Academies are doing a great job finding and fostering young athletes, with examples like Ari Graham, Trent Dodds, Hamish Miller and Olivia Corrin coming in to triathlon and quickly finding their feet.
"We are delighted to add Hamish, Trent, Bradley Cullen and Katherine Badham to the National Talent Squad, and to support Olivia a little as she takes her first steps. All these athletes are supported by a passionate group of forward-looking coaches keen to develop the best talent network in the world."
The National Talent Squad athletes are identified from within the National Talent Programme and along with their coaches will work closely with Triathlon New Zealand throughout the year as part of a clear and tangible pathway for athletes from Talent Identification to World Class podia.
The NTS athletes will benefit from some performance support services and coaching in their home regions; coaching, training and competition support as a National Squad; and assisted access to equipment. Key focus include technique, conditioning and performance lifestyle, with exposure to international competition. Again in 2015 the Squad will periodically train alongside the HP Squads at the National High Performance Centre in Cambridge, starting with the first camp of the new Squad from 12-16 April.
ITU World Championships, Chicago
September 2015
(Hometown and coach of each athlete in brackets)
New Zealand Junior Men
- Dan Hoy (Auckland – Nathan Richmond)
- Tayler Reid (Gisborne – Stephen Sheldrake)
- Kyle Smith (Taupo – Cameron Durno)
- Fynn Thompson (Queenstown)
- Val Burke - as reserve with nomination to ITU for 4th spot on start list
New Zealand Junior Women
- Lizzie Stannard (Palmerston North - Will O'Connor)
- Katherine Badham (Auckland – Brent Foster)
- Nicole van der Kaay (Taupo – Jon Brown)
- Jaimee Leader (Palmerston North)
- Sam Warriner - as reserve with nomination to ITU for 4th spot on start list
New Zealand U23 Men
- Cameron Todd (Auckland – Stephen Farrell)
Triathlon New Zealand 2015 National Talent Squad
Boys
- Bradley Cullen (Hamilton – Samantha Warriner)
- Trent Dodds (Auckland – Bruce Hunter)
- Dan Hoy (Auckland – Nathan Richmond)
- Hamish Miller (Tauranga – Chris Willett)
- Tayler Reid (Gisborne – Stephen Sheldrake)
- Kyle Smith (Taupo – Cameron Durno)
- Fynn Thompson (Queenstown – Val Burke)
- Trent Thorpe (Auckland – Bruce Hunter)
- Liam Ward (Auckland – Brett Reid).
Girls
- Katherine Badham (Auckland – Brent Foster)
- Ari Graham (Christchurch – Maria Hassan)
- Jaimee Leader (Palmerston North – Samantha Warriner)
- Lizzie Stannard (Palmerston North – Will O'Connor)
- Ainsley Thorpe (Auckland – Bruce Hunter)
* Note that Olivia Corrin (Gisborne) has been identified to receive support and guidance but at 14 years of age is not included in the NTS for 2015.
