From Triathlon Ireland Aileen Morrison will line up for the Yokohama leg of the World Triathlon Series which gets underway during the early hours of the morning. The region is currently in the grips of a typhoon but race organisers are hopeful conditions will have settled in time for Saturday mornings action.
Morrison had a strong start to the 2012 season with a host of podium finishes including the best ever result by an Irish triathlete when she took silver at the Madrid leg of the World Triathlon Series. The only hiccup was a 42nd place finish at the Olympic Games where a greasy corner resulted in a fall from her bike and deep gash to the elbow.
Looking to get back on track Morrison placed 5th in a top class field in the French GP two weeks ago. Yokohama boasts another top class field including the likes of Olympic silver medallist Lisa Norden, bronze medallist and current World Number 1 Erin Densham and a host of women ranked inside the top 10 in the world.
Morrison will be hoping for another solid performance with a view to retaining or boasting her World Triathlon Series Ranking which currently stands at 13th. If weather conditions improve the course should pose no major problems with two 750m laps around the Osambashi pier to start. The bike and run legs start and finish in Yamashita park and take in the sights of Yokohama’s waterfront during the relatively flat and fast 40km bike and 10km run sections.
Morrison has fond memories of this race having finished 4th here last year. A similar result this time around would be a major confidence boost ahead of the ITU Grand Final which takes place in Auckland in 3 weeks time.
ITU Press Release
With the Grand Final of the ITU World Triathlon Series fast approaching, precious WTS rankings points are at stake at the penultimate stop in Yokohama this weekend. Andrea Hewitt (NZL) returns from a short break in racing, making the women’s competition more fierce than ever. In contrast, while key players in the men’s race are missing, racing will be anything but lacking as athletes gun for important points.
This year, athletes will start with a two-lap 750m swim in the sea near Osambashi pier. An Olympic distance race, the bike and run legs start and finish in Yamashita park and in and around Yokohama’s waterfront. The bike snakes around the giant Cosmo Clock 21 Ferris Wheel, while the run will take athletes around the Kanagawa Prefectural Government Building.
Women’s Preview
Following the London 2012 Olympic Games, previous WTS series leader Andrea Hewitt (NZL) opted to sit out the Stockholm race in lieu of recovering from the Games. However, after her lead slipped to Olympic bronze medallist Erin Densham (AUS), Hewitt returns to WTS racing in Japan with her eye on a world championship. Yokohama has done Hewitt well in previous years, with the Kiwi winning in 2011 and collecting silver in 2009. Her podium history, hunger to regain the top ranking, and fresh racing legs could make Hewitt incredibly dangerous.
However, Hewitt will face severe competition for that No. 1 spot on the leader board. Densham has been unstoppable this season, having made the podium in all but one race since March. Her only slip was in Stockholm, but her fifth-place finish was good enough to give her the top WTS ranking by 470 points. While the Aussie has yet to race in Yokohama, her form this year makes her a serious threat for the podium. Densham won’t be the only Aussie contender in Yokohama with Ashleigh Gentle (AUS) and Emma Moffatt (AUS) set to start as well.
Lisa Norden (SWE), who has been on fire since her silver medal in London, will also line up in the Japanese coastal city. Norden won the last WTS race on home soil in Stockholm, which moved her into fourth place on the charts. Like Hewitt, Norden has experienced great success on the Yokohama course, having won in 2009.
The host country itself will feature a deep pool of talent with 2012 Olympians Mariko Adachi, Juri Ide, and Ai Ueda ready to dazzle their compatriots. Last year, huge crowds poured out to support the athletes, which will no doubt assist the Japanese in their vision for glory.
Other dangerous competitors include Sarah Groff (USA), who returns to competition after just missing a medal in London. Hewitt’s teammate Kate McIlroy (NZL), who recorded a bronze medal performance last year, is one to look out for. With the absence of Olympic gold medallist Nicola Spirig (SUI) from the start list, look for Anne Haug (GER), who sits in fifth in the rankings and recently finished fourth in Stockholm, to push the pace to improve her ranking. Although Barbara Riveros Diaz (CHI) experienced a disappointing finish in London, she returned to form in Stockholm with a third place finish and will be a name to look for in Yokohama.
Scott Graham
Development & Media Officer
scott@triathlonireland.com
+353 (0)863687548