Triathlon New Zealand has today announced the High Performance Squads for 2015 with nine athletes named in either the Podium or Development Squads as the sport continues to emphasize a long term focus with a firm eye on shorter term pinnacle events and milestones.
In naming the nine athletes, the HP Squads are even more focused and refined as triathletes must show a proven record of tracking towards either Rio or Tokyo Olympic Games. High Performance Director Graeme Maw says the smaller group of athletes allows for an intense focus on their campaigns as well as a continuation of the work being done with the next tier of developing athletes.
"After a year of much change and learning for the High Performance Team, we are delighted to be supporting a focused group of athletes all who have demonstrated to be tracking on the pathway to the Rio and/or Tokyo Olympic Games.
"Consistent with our commitment to the NHPC and high performance standards, we leave 2014 and look forward with a group of athletes having tasted international podia or breakthrough successes, and a real ability to focus on their campaign needs."
Maw says the door is always open for those who leave the Squads but stresses that the sport must invest wisely and ensure that the next generation is being identified and given every opportunity to progress to the HP Squads in the future.
"We are pleased to have been able to give opportunity to those with whom we part ways, and will look forward to doing so again should they return to the pathway. At the same time, by selecting an even more focused Squad, we are able to direct further resource to the National Talent Programme and supporting athletes such as medallists Tayler Reid and Dan Hoy who are also looking to challenge by Tokyo 2020."
The Squads will again be based at the sport's High Performance Centre in Cambridge, with the Development Squad living and training in Cambridge on a fulltime basis while the Podium Squad will split their time between Cambridge, their home bases and the time spent overseas preparing for and competing in ITU World Series events.
Tri NZ 2015 High Performance Squads
Podium Squad
- Andrea Hewitt, Christchurch
- Nicky Samuels, Wanaka
- Tony Dodds, Wanaka
- Ryan Sissons, Auckland
Development Squad
- Simone Ackermann, Whangarei
- Sophie Corbidge, Auckland
- Elise Salt, Auckland
- Nicole van der Kaay, Taupo
- Sam Ward, Auckland
The coaching team will be headed by Jon Brown (Rio 2016 Campaign) and Tim Brazier (Tokyo 2020 Campaign) providing leadership in those respective campaigns, and working with other key coaches such as Laurent Vidal (coach of Andrea Hewitt), and Cameron Durno (coach of Nicole van der Kaay, the first athlete to successfully transition from the National Talent Squad to High Performance).
Growing coaching links is seen as critical to athletes' transitions, illustrated by recent development opportunities and continued evolution of the National Talent Programme.
National Talent Squad
- Dan Hoy, Auckland – coach Nathan Richmond
- Tayler Reid, Gisborne – coach Stephen Sheldrake
- Kyle Smith, Taupo – coach Cameron Durno
- Fynn Thompson, Queenstown – coach Val Burke
- Trent Thorpe, Auckland – coach Bruce Hunter
- Liam Ward, Auckland – coach Brett Reid
- Ari Graham, Christchurch – coach Maria Hassan
- Jaimee Leader, Palmerston North – coach Sam Warriner
- Lizzie Stannard, Palmerston North – coach Will O'Connor
- Ainsley Thorpe, Auckland – coach Bruce Hunter
The ongoing work with these athletes and their coaches is to position the athletes for transition into the High Performance programme in the future. It is encouraging to see the investment that we are making into this group is laying a solid foundation for the future, in particular 2020 and 2024. We appreciate the collaborative approach between the Tri NZ HP programme and the individual coaches of the talent Squad.
