For five Port Macquarie Age Group Triathletes, the trip of a lifetime is about to become reality.
As Australia is being enthralled by the London Olympics, Steve Sanders, Daniel Williamson, Trent Harrison and husband and wife Ron and Beryl Wilson are focused on the World 70.3 Triathlon in Las Vegas, USA.
Each of these athletes qualified for Vegas triathlon, which will be held on September 9, by finishing in the top three per cent of their respective age groups here in Australia.
Williamson and Sanders will compete in the 40-44 age group division which comprises over 400 competitors.
“I had entered Ironman Canada, which is only two weeks before Vegas so, when I qualified for the World Champs in the US, I thought why not,” said Sanders who will be travelling with wife Jane.
“Training for Triathlon can be a lonely experience at times, especially in winter when most of my rides have been early in the morning before daylight, river swimming three days a week in freezing conditions and winds that make running feel like you’re ice skating,” said Williamson.
“We are expecting tem-peratures in the mid-40s in Vegas, along with the hot desert winds, so it should be – FUN,” he added.
For young gun Trent Harrison, who will be competing in the 20-24 age group division, Vegas will be an opportunity to showcase all his hard work and determination.
“We are literally competing against the best in the world so, whilst excited to be tested, I’m not getting carried away,” said Harrison.
“Being able to compete in another country in such a huge event is an added bonus which I am sure will stick with me for a lifetime.”
For husband and wife Ron and Beryl Wilson, who will each compete in the 60-64 age group category, travelling with over $15,000 worth of bikes and other triathlon related equipment is not new.
The Wilsons have been involved in the sport for longer than they can remember and have represented Australia in their age groups on numerous occasions.
“Both Beryl and myself are thrilled to be competing in the 70.3 World Champs and we are flying to Kona, Hawaii to compete in the World Ironman Triathlon immediately following Vegas,” said Ron. “We both love the sport and feel it keeps us as young as these other whippersnappers” he joked.
We wish all these age group athletes the very best, as we do Tim Berkel, who will also be competing in the professional ranks in Las Vegas.
