Caloundra Tri poised for national status

The Caloundra Triathlon is now well positioned to become Australia's third biggest triathlon behind its Sunshine Coast counterparts Noosa and Mooloolaba Triathlons with the recent announcement by Triathlon Australia High Performance team to include the event as one of the two races in the new National Elite Race Series as part of the athletes domestic season.

USM EVENTS Managing Director Garth Prowd heralded the inclusion of this elite race component a huge step towards cementing the Caloundra Triathlon as one of Australia's preeminent races.

"We have had lengthy discussions with the high performance team to secure these two events in Queensland and the Caloundra Tri is now poised to take the number three ranking in terms of national status and attendance with the inclusion of this elite race component.

"The event has received good support from all stakeholders to position the event thus far but will need significant further financial assistance to ensure that it remains at the required top level. This will effectively complete the trio of major triathlons on the Sunshine Coast confirming south east Queensland the home of triathlon in Australia."

USM EVENTS in conjunction with the National Performance Director, Michael Flynn and National Head Coach Shaun Stephens devised the new two race series to provide strong competition for Australia's junior elite, Under 23 and Elite athletes domestically as part of their training programme over some non-traditional formats.

The Caloundra Triathlon on Sunday, February 7 will be the first race in the series, athletes will contest an Enduro format, short supersprint distance triathlon completed three times in succession. Race 6 of the Gatorade Queensland Tri Series at Raby Bay on 28 February will host the second race to be held over the Triple Super Sprint format.   

These races will feature current World Champion Emma Moffatt, Olympic champion Emma Snowsill, National champion Courtney Atkinson and former world number one Brad Kahlefeldt together with our top juniors including silver medallist at 2009 World Championships and the youngest ever Noosa Triathlon winner Emma Jackson.

"This will probably be the best field of triathletes in Australia for 2010 outside the World Cup at Mooloolaba.

"The new short distance, close circuit format will also guarantee intense and exciting racing with the Caloundra course perfectly suited to this type of event," said Prowd.

Last years' event attracted 1700 competitors, the largest in the series history with 2010 figures expected to exceed 2000.

Race 5 Distances:
QTS    400m swim | 15km cycle | 4km run
NAB Enticer    200m swim | 5km cycle   | 2km run
The Courier-Mail Kool Kids    100m swim | 2km cycle   | 400m run
Workplace Teams Tri    400m swim | 15km cycle | 4km run

The Program
Race 5    Caloundra    Sunday February 7, 2010
Race 6    Raby Bay    Sunday February 28, 2010
Race 7     Gold Coast    Sunday April 18, 2020 (SERIES GRAND FINAL - Gold Coast Tri, Luke Harrop Memorial)

Entries and detailed information available at www.usmevents.com.au or for other enquiries phone (07) 3868 2444.