Albury Wodonga Triathlon Club (AWTC) Triathlete Alessia Orla wins Race 1 of the Triathlon Victoria State Series 2011-12

MEDIA RELEASE: Tuesday 8 November 2011

With a good victory in Melbourne, Alessia's adventure in kangaroo country has begun. The first of the five sprint races (TRI SERIES XOSIZE) has started at the Victorian capital’s beautiful beach, Brighton, featuring 450 ranked athletes, 116 women included. Despite her training in Australia beginning again only 10 days ago, the AWTC triathlete from Torino, Italy, exited the water second (the only woman without a wetsuit). She easily handled the bike section in the bunch which included a challenging climb and prevailed through the run to achieve an outstanding win.

All info and results are on http://www.triseries.com.au/

Six Albury-Wodonga Triathlon Club (AWTC) members travelled to Melbourne last weekend to contest Race 1 of the Triathlon Victoria State Series 2011-12. The series features 5 races, one per month from October to March. The best triathletes in Victoria will compete over the summer in Sprint Triathlons to claim the Victorian series winner in the Elite and Age Group categories. Race one was a 500m swim – 20km ride and 5km run triathlon held on 6 November in Brighton.

The overall female race was won by AWTC elite athlete Alessia Orla (19yo) in the time of 1:04:39 ahead of Melbourne’s Penny Hosken in 1:05:02 and Kristine Norden in 1:06:13. At the 6th place overall was another AWTC member, Kirsty Deacon (14yo) in the time of 1:08:21. She was the first junior finisher.

In the category places, AWTC members collected two gold, one bronze and 3 top 10 places.

Alessia Orla: Gold in the Open Elite Female.

Kirsty Deacon: Gold in the 14-15 Female.

Thomas Noble: Bronze in the 14-15 Male Mini Triathlon.

Alexander Holbrook: 5th in the 16-19 Male.

Caleb Noble: 8th in the Junior Elite Male.

Harrison Rees: 9th in the Junior Elite Male.

Although we are a small local club we have a history of success when we race.

Next event for the AWTC junior squad will be the 5 Dec in Mordialloc with Race 2 of the Victoria State series. Before this state race, all the junior squad will race in the AWTC Mini Triathlon on 27 Nov at Allan’s Flat.

Coach Report

Dear Alessia, Kirsty, Caleb, Harrison, Alexander and Thomas.

Thanks very much for the wonderful weekend in Melbourne. Your professionalism shown during the two days in Melbourne gives me confidence in your great future ahead in the sport of triathlon. For me what was very important, was not just the final result of your race, but how you acted during the entire weekend, from the Saturday pre-race routine to the transition area and the open water swim familiarisation on Saturday afternoon. From the Sunday warm up on the bike to the transition set up to the running drills to the open water entry and exit practical warm up. Of course the race results were the icing on the cake.

Keep perusing in your dream of searching for the best of you in the sport of triathlon. The training program was probably hard and demanding at some stage but your perseverance and belief in it has rewarded you with an outstanding result for all of you.

Alessia (19yo) had her first race in OZ after an exhausting racing season in Europe. In the weeks leading up to the event, Alessia just kept up the base fitness in order to rest as much as possible before starting the new training season in Australian. I believe that the relaxed atmosphere that the club and in particular the junior squad have created around Alessia have contributed a lot to her outstanding performance. Alessia won the overall female race. It has been a long time since an AWTC member was able to win a state race in the Open/Elite category. Only Rebekah Keat has been able to do so more than 10 years ago.

Kirsty (14yo) had her debut in an official state Sprint distance event. Kirsty was not only able to win the under 16 female category, but also came 6th in the overall female race and been the best athlete of the Triathlon Victoria Under 20 Squad.

What a day for the two girls.!!!!!!

Caleb and Harrison, both 16yo, raced their first ITU Junior race of their young career. ITU Junior category is the Elite/Junior (16-19yo) category where endorsed juniors are allowed to race in the draft legal Open-Elite category. A swim compromised by not wearing a wetsuit due to the crazy suggestion of their coach Fabrizio (me), compromised their opportunity to finish the swim in the pack and ride in the bunch. Both athletes did not panic and with a solid solo ride they only lost 3 minutes to the bunch-group of more than 20 athletes. On the run the Caleb and Harrison show started and with an impressive run off-bike they finished 8th and 9th in the Junior/Elite race. The impressive run was noticed, not only by the coach Fabrizio, but also by David Hugget, Triathlon Victoria Junior Squad Manager and by Sydney Olympic Games Bronze Medallist Jan Rehula. Rehula is now the Triathlon Australian Junior Academy Manager. Both David and Jan came to meet and congratulate Caleb and Harrison for their bike and run performances.

Alexander (17yo) raced in the 16-19 Age Group category finishing 5th on his state series debut.

Finally Thomas (15yo) was the third podium getter for the AWTC on the day. After the two gold medallists, Alessia and Kirsty, Thomas took the bronze medal in the male 14-15 age group category in the Mini triathlon.

Fabrizio Andreoni

Triathlon Australia L2 Coach Licence - Australian Sports Commission Accredited

Triathlon Victoria TVDP Albury-Wodonga Satellite Program Coach

Albury-Wodonga Triathlon Club Coach (AUS)

www.Fab4Fitness.com.au

Info@Fab4Fitness.com

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