Posted: October 18, 2007

Multisport: European Champion Morrison looks for further Duathlon success on World stage

This weekend the world’s best duathletes will take to the streets of Richmond, Virginia vying for the 2007 Richmond ITU Long Distance Duathlon World Championship. More than 500 athletes from 25 different countries are expected in the elite and age-group fields. On the women’s side, last year’s silver medallist Catriona Morrison from Glasgow will be one of the heavy favourites. Earlier this year she convincingly won the European Duathlon Championships in her native Scotland, and collected a bronze medal at the ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships in Lorient, France. In 2006 she won the World Duathlon Championships in Canada over the standard distance, therefore the Long Distance Duathlon is the only major Championship she is yet to win. Unfortunately the men’s defending champion won’t be on the start line. Tragically, Benny Vansteelant passed away last month after sustaining severe injuries from an accident while cycling near his home in Belgium. But the Vansteelant family will still be represented in the championships by Benny’s brother, Joerie. He finished third last year as part of a 1-2-3-4 Belgian finish. Unfortunately European Duathlon bronze medallist Tom Lowe from Cheltenham will miss the race as he recovers from an injury which has hampered his summer racing; however Buckingham’s Michelle Lee, who was seventh at the World Duathlon Championships, returns to the team having missed the Europeans. Great Britain Men’s Team for Richmond ITU Long Distance Duathlon World Championship: Dave Brown, Milton Keynes Matt Moorhouse, Preston Oliver Mott, Shrewsbury Wayne Smith, Coulsdon Great Britain Women’s Team for Richmond ITU Long Distance Duathlon World Championship: Michelle Lee, Buckingham Catriona Morrison, Glasgow Michelle Parsons, Evesham For further information on British Triathlon, please visit www.britishtriathlon.org. About British Triathlon British Triathlon is the National Governing Body for triathlon, the UK’s fastest growing sport. At international level Great Britain boasts a strong squad of world ranked elite triathletes who regularly achieve international success and has some outstanding young talent emerging from its youth programmes. Since becoming an Olympic sport in 2000, British Triathlon has seen annual increases in membership numbers of 10%. There are over 500 triathlon events conducted in Great Britain each year including the London Triathlon, arguably the largest triathlon event in the World and the ITU World Cup race in Salford, one of the world’s leading international races. Subscribe to the Runner's Web Weekly Digest