Posted: August 5, 2006

Triathlon: Canada Announces National Junior & U-23 Team for Triathlon World Championships

Two of Canada’s future stars have been named to the Junior and U-23 National Team for the Triathlon World Championships. When this major event takes place in Lausanne in early September, Kirsten Sweetland and Kyle Jones will be among the favourites in their respective categories. Sweetland, who has not lost a triathlon since last year’s World Championships, has a great chance to win Canada’s first ever gold medal in the Women’s junior division. Sweetland, from Victoria, is the 2-time defending Women’s Junior National champion. Jones, who finished 9th at last year’s U-23 World Championships, will be looking to win Canada’s first ever medal in the U-23 division. Jones has had a terrific season to date including a 7th place finish at the Corner Brook World Cup on July 23rd. This result was good enough to earn Jones, from Oakville, Ontario, a spot on the elite National team, however, High Performance Director, Tom Patrick, said it was an easy decision for Kyle to race U-23s. “Our philosophy is simple – you master each step along the way. You don’t want to jump a level ahead and possibly miss a key learning point.” Never before has Canada entered the World Championships with 3 potential podium finishers. Not since 1992, when Canadian Joanne Ritchie won a silver in the Women’s elite and Canadian Kirstie Otto won a bronze in the Women’s junior, has Canada’s team looked so promising. Simon Whitfield is having a sensational summer and has to be looked at as a potential medal winner – no Canadian male has ever medaled at the World Championships. Patrick said there’s no doubt in his mind September 2nd & 3rd could be very special days for Canada at the World Championships. “I believe we have the ability to win the juniors with Kirsten Sweetland, win the Under 23s with Kyle Jones and the win the elites with Simon Whitfield.” Colin Jenkins, who beat Jones at the recent Canadian National Triathlon Championships in Brampton on July 2nd to win his first ever U-23 National Championship, is also a legitimate contender in Lausanne. Jenkins, from Hamilton, has had a breakout season in 2006, including a stellar 6th place finish at the Pan American Championships in Brazil in early June – another race where Jenkins beat Jones. Sean Bechtel, from Caledon, Ontario, will be on the U-23 team on the strength of his second place finish at the U-23 National Championship in Brampton. Andre-Paul Baillargeon Smith and Jordan Bryden have also been named to the Men’s U-23 team. The Women’s Under-23 Team consists of Alicia Kaye and Jessica Kirkwood. Kaye, from Pickering, Ontario, won the Women’s U-23 National Championship and will be heading back to the U-23 World Championships for a second straight year – last year in Gamagori, Japan, Kaye finished in 19th position. Kirkwood, from Victoria, ended the 2005 season ranked 75th on the ITU Points List and she’ll also be competing in the World Championships for the second consecutive time, however, last year she did not finish the race. Sarah-Anne Brault, from Winnipeg, is another athlete who has a chance to do well in Lausanne. Brault, known for her running ability, finished a few seconds behind Sweetland at the National Duathlon Championships in Ancaster and then in Edmonton on July 9th Brault was runner up again to Sweetland at the National Triathlon Championships. Brault won a silver medal at the Canada Games in the 5,000 metre run with a time of 17:23. “From a junior female triathlete perspective Sarah-Anne Brault is an international level runner,” says Patrick. Paula Findlay and Marianne Hogan will also compete for Canada in the Women’s junior category. Blair Peters leads a group of 4 men competing in the Men’s junior category. Peters is 2006 National Junior Champion. Andrew McCartney, a former junior National Champion, finished second to Peters in Edmonton on July 9th, will compete for the second straight year at the World Championships – last year in Gamagori, McCartney finished in 17th position. Willie Bell and Andrew Woegerer are also on the Men’s junior team heading to Lausanne. Men’s U-23 Team Kyle Jones Colin Jenkins Andre-Paul Baillargeon Smith Sean Bechtel Jordan Bryden Women’s U-23 Team Alicia Kaye Jessica Kirkwood Men’s Junior Team Blair Peters Andrew McCartney Willie Bell Andrew Woegerer Women’s Junior Team Kirsten Sweetland Sarah-Anne Brault Paula Findlay Marianne Hogan Source: Triathlon Canada

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