Australia secures Rio triathlon berths

Australia has swept the men's and women's races at the Oceania triathlon championships, confirming team berths for the Rio Olympics

Australia's domination of the Oceania triathlon championships ensures it will have the maximum three men and three women racing at the Rio Olympics.

Triathlon Australia said the clean sweeps of the two races on Saturday in Gisborne, New Zealand had confirmed the third spots for the two teams.

Australia, a traditional power in the sport, had the embarrassment of only qualifying two men's spots at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

It needed big results on Saturday to remove any uncertainty about team numbers for Rio and the triathletes delivered.

Beijing bronze medallist Emma Moffatt won the women's Olympic-distance race ahead of Emma Jeffcoat and Jaz Hedgeland.

The men's 1.5km swim, 40km cycle and 10km run event went to Marcel Walkington, who beat Aaron Royle and Jake Birtwhistle.

Royle is the only confirmed Australian triathlon nomination for Rio so far, thanks to his sixth last year at the Olympic test event.

The next selection milestone will be the April 9 second round of the world triathlon series on the Gold Coast.

The first Australian across the line in the men's and women's races are automatic nominations, provided they finish in the top 10.

All other selections will be discretionary.

"That's a case of mission accomplished," said TA performance director Bernard Savage.

"To secure those final quota spots ahead of New Zealand was never going to be easy - the New Zealanders hate losing and especially to Australia.

"But to get a maximum three spots for Rio is testament to everyone doing their job.

"It's up to the individual athletes now to deliver on the Gold Coast next month."


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Source: AAP


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