TRiAthlone Some of the world’s top triathletes have been added to the start list for this weekend’s Waterways Ireland TriAthlone race in Athlone. Ireland’s first Olympic triathlete, Emma Davis, will be joined on the starting pontoon for the women’s Elite race by fellow Olympian Lenka Zemanova from the Czech Republic. Zemanova and Davis will also face stiff competition from the 2008 World Junior Champion, Emmie Charayron from France.
There will also be some considerable talent from the southern hemisphere, with Australian Felicty Sheedy Ryan taking part after winning the Oceania U-23 title this year.
The men’s Elite race will also have some of the worlds best triathlon talent on show. Gavin Noble, who narrowly missed out on Olympic qualification, will lead the Irish charge in the men’s event. The French send a young but hugely impressive squad which includes current World and European Junior Champion, Luis Vincent and the 2007 World Junior Champion Aurelien Raphael.
The vastly experienced Martin Krnavek from the Czech Republic will also be competing. Krnavek is an Olympian and is currently ranked 13th in the World. Two top young triathletes from New Zealand, Graham O’Grady and Martin Van Barneveld, will lead the southern hemisphere charge. The World Aquathon Champion, Richard Stannard, will also take to the starting pontoon on Saturday.
This is the third and biggest year of the Waterways Ireland TriAthlone event. Over 1,500 people will compete on Saturday alongside some of the worlds finest athletes as they warm up ahead of the Olympic Games at the start of August. More information on the event can be found on www.triathlone.com
