WA triathletes run away with top five finishes

Two Western Australian young guns are on the verge of World Championship selections following their top five performances at a recent international triathlon meet.

06 April 2011

Ashlee Bailie (WA) came third in the Junior Women’s race of the ITU Oceania Triathlon Championships in Wellington New Zealand in March, with a time of 01:05:52. The race was won by New Zealand’s Mikayla Nielsen (01:05:18), with Natalie Van Coevorden from New South Wales taking second place (01:05:45).

In the Junior Men’s race, Kenji Nener (WA) came in fifth with a time of 00:59:36. The winner was Queensland’s Matt Brown (00:58:56).

 The pair is part of a Triathlon WA program supported by the Department of Sport and Recreation (DSR).

Triathlon WA receives $15,000 per annum for three years (2009/10–2011/12) to support its State Talent Squad program through DSR’s High Performance Planning and Service Provision grant.

Ashlee has also been a recipient under DSR's Smarter than Smoking Country Sport Scholarship, offered each year in partnership with Healthway.

“We at DSR are proud to support Triathlon WA in its work to help athletes like Ashlee and Kenji reach new heights in their sport,” said DSR Talent Development Regional Coordinator Samantha Shields.

“It’s great to see these WA athletes doing so well and we wish them every success in their quest to gain selection for the World Championships.”