The Elite Selection Commission of Triathlon New Zealand today announced their 2016 High Performance Squads, with athletes named to three different tiers based on past performances and tracking towards pinnacle events.
Each will receive support to enable them to train and race as fulltime athletes, albeit some will continue their tertiary studies.
With an eye to stability towards 2016 and building towards 2020, the ESC has named ten athletes for 2016, highlighted by the elevation of Simone Ackermann (Auckland) to Tier 2 and the inclusion for the first time of Tayler Reid (Gisborne), with the 19 year old moving to Tier 3 from the National Talent Squad. Reid will work in collaboration with his personal coach Stephen Sheldrake in Gisborne and the Tri NZ HP Programme in Cambridge during what is seen as a ‘transition year.’
Andrea Hewitt (Christchurch) and Nicky Samuels (Wanaka) are named in Tier 1 (Podium), Ackermann is joined by Tony Dodds (Wanaka) and Ryan Sissons (Auckland) in Tier 2 (Podium Development), and Sophie Corbidge (Auckland), Elise Salt (Auckland), Nicole van der Kaay (Taupo) and Sam Ward (Auckland) are alongside Reid in Tier 3 (Development).
Tri NZ High Performance Director Graeme Maw is delighted for all, but speaking on behalf of the Selection Commission singled out Ackermann and Reid for special mentions.
“This is a quality group of young people, all of whom are totally dedicated to their sport and apply themselves with great passion and commitment and contribute to our culture here in Cambridge. The different Tiers reflect different stages of their careers and development, with Rio the obvious focus for Tier 1 and 2, while the Tier 3 athletes are more likely looking further ahead to Tokyo 2020 and beyond.
“Simone is deserving of her rise in the squads, after a year that included a career best 10th place finish at the Auckland World Series race, backed up by a number of top 25 performances and a season ending 26th place at the Chicago Grand Final. She is now clearly a contender for a place in Rio 2016.
“Tayler is a young man of great promise who has shown strong progress through the junior ranks supported by his coach Stephen Sheldrake, with his year highlighted by a 7th place finish in elite company at the Osaka Continental Cup event and an 11th place finish at the ITU World Junior Men’s Championships in a race that was turned into a Duathlon due to weather concerns. His elevation marks the second athlete after Nicole (van der Kaay – coached by Cameron Durno) to progress from the National Talent Squad into the HP Squads.”
Following on from Reid and van der Kaay’s progress from the NTS to the HP Squads, several others have been identified to receive High Performance Sport New Zealand’s new initiative where Performance Enhancing Grants are made available to assist emerging athletes looking to bridge the gap to the HP Squads (E-PEGS).
Kyle Smith (Taupo), Dan Hoy (Auckland), Lizzie Stannard (Palmerston North) and Jaimee Leader (Palmerston North) have been awarded E-PEGs through the National Talent Squad, and Deb Lynch (Porirua) will receive some support to join the HP training squad to continue the progress she made last year as an U23.
Maw said that while standards are high, the Selection Commission would still like to see more athletes challenging for HP Squad inclusion.
“Tri NZ makes no apology for a policy that has seen the bar set high to be a part of the HP squads and while there were some borderline selection decisions with robust debate amongst the selection commission, those named today have earned it but must continue to show results and progress towards their goals.
“Tri NZ would however like to see more athletes in the conversation, something we will see occur over the next few years as the work of the National Talent Programme bears fruit. But the standards and expectations are there for all athletes to work towards, there is no question we would like to see more achieving at that level.”
The coaching team will continue to be headed by Jon Brown (Rio 2016 Campaign) and Tim Brazier (Tokyo 2020 Campaign) providing leadership in those respective campaigns, while working with other key personal coaches (including the likes of John Hellemans and Stephen Farrell) as they work alongside the HP team and their athletes to ensure the best possible outcomes.
Tier 2 and 3 athletes are based fulltime in Cambridge, working with the Coaching and support staff at the Tri NZ HP hub and living in an environment that sees them rub shoulders with elite rowers and cyclists and have access to the best sports science and medical support. Tier 1 athletes spend less time in Cambridge but will come in at key times during the year. All athletes are involved in overseas camps and campaigns throughout the year, depending on their pinnacle events and schedules.
Triathlon New Zealand 2016 High Performance Squads
Tier 1
- Andrea Hewitt (Chch)
- Nicky Samuels (Wanaka)
Tier 2
- Simone Ackermann (Auck)
- Ryan Sissons (Auck)
- Tony Dodds (Wanaka)
Tier 3
- Sophie Corbidge (Auck)
- Elise Salt (Auck)
- Samuel Ward (Auck)
- Nicole van der Kaay (Taupo)
- Tayler Reid (Gisborne)
