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| Nicky Samuels (Photo: Triathlon NZ) |
Kinloch at Lake Taupo will this weekend play host to the New Zealand Sprint Triathlon Championships as well as a host of other races for age group and beginner athletes, including the children as the Contact Tri Series continues its summer of racing.
Leading the way in the elite women's category over the 750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run course will be Timaru winner Janine Simpson (Tauranga) and Rebecca Kingsford (Tirau) but they and the rest of the field will probably be chasing Nicky Samuels (Wanaka) as the current world number 27 prepares for a course she thinks will suit her style of racing.
Samuels has worked harder than ever since her runner up finish behind Sam Warriner in Wanaka last month.
"Training has just been massive! I've just come off the biggest two weeks of training in my life, if has been fantastic, challenging and great fun. I have been focused on my running and cycling and just plodding through with swimming."
Samuels is juggling the lure of chasing a national title with the knowledge that her peak won't come until the Northern Hemisphere summer and the international racing programme.
"It is always nice to be a national champion in something so it is an event which is significant in that respect but with my focus so strong on later in the year Sunday is also in some ways just another training day. I don't want to be at my peak at this time of year if I want to get enough training in the bank for the World Series circuit, this is a fine balance but one I have to get right.
"Kinloch lets me know where I am at in each discipline and how much work I still have to do! It is only a sprint race and I don't expect to have the speed at this time of year but every race is added experience and this race is just the second in a long year with focus on the World Champs Final in Budapest in September."
Samuels is a renowned bike rider and 'strength' athlete so it is likely she will enjoy a bike course that offers its share of hills, albeit minus the big climb of previous years.
"The course at Kinloch is great, although I would much prefer the entire big hill was left in the bike! I enjoy it and it is the true challenge in the race and really makes you work the bike and the run, but it's just the sort of short but strength orientated race I need at this time of year.
"It's going to be a hard hit out for me so I want to swim strong from the start and work hard on the bike. The course and how much easier it is now without the big climb will dictate the rest for me."
The day will feature age group racing in sprint distance events with national titles up for grabs but also a standard distance event with the Erin Baker Award Race and races for novice triathletes simply looking to get involved in the sport (Contact 3:9:3) and the children getting started (Contact 1:2:1).
Entries are still open on line at www.triathlon.org.nz
Contact Tri Series (incorporating Tri NZ Sprint Nationals)
Kinloch, Taupo: Sunday 7th February
7.00am – Men, Taupo Standard Triathlon - Erin Baker Award
7.05 am – Women, Taupo Standard Triathlon - Erin Baker Award
7.15 am – Teams, Taupo Standard Triathlon - Erin Baker Award
10:00am Contact Trophy Men
10:05am Contact Trophy Women
10:07am Contact Trophy Teams
11:10am Contact 3:9:3 Men
11:15am Contact 3:9:3 Women
11:17am Contact 3:9:3 Teams
12:30pm Elite/U23/U19 Men
12:35pm Elite/U23/U19 Women
1:50pm Contact 1:2:1
2:30pm Prize Giving
