Doctors now believe Kahlefeldt is suffering from atypical Pneumonia and has been on antibiotics since being admitted to hospital after last Sunday’s ITU World Championship race in San Diego.

Kahlefeldt underwent a lung biopsy yesterday with results due on Monday and doctors have said he will not be allowed to fly for at least another week.

Doctors at the Scripts Mercy Hospital in San Diego have been in daily consultation with the Triathlon Australia medical staff to monitor Kahlefeldt’s progress.

They have told the London bound Beijing Olympian he still has a long way to go in his recovery and training as he prepares for the Olympics.

“Brad will be allowed out of hospital tomorrow and there is every chance he will be allowed to start some light training in a couple of days and that’s good news but he will remain in the UYS for at least another week,” said Triathlon Australia’s Performance Manager Michael Flynn.

“Doctors will have to continue to monitor him and he has to be given the all-clear before he can fly. Once he has been cleared Brad can then hopefully join the Australian team camp in Majorca.”

Kahlefeldt, along with Beijing Olympic bronze medallist Emma Moffatt, are the only Australian Triathletes pre-nominated for London.

The remainder of the team will be finalised on May 31 after the ITU Madrid World Championship Series race on May 26, 27.

Click here to vote for who you think should be in the Australian Triathlon Olympic Team

Brad pictured at the recent Sydney ITU press conference

Kahlefeldt complained to Australian Triathlon team staff after finishing the second ITU Triathlon World Championship race at Mission Beach yesterday.

The 31-year Beijing Olympian, who has been pre-nominated for this year’s London Games, reported pains on the left side of his chest during the 10 kilometre run and underwent immediate chest x-rays.

Kahlefeldt, one of the best runners in world triathlon, put himself into the top 10 at the start of the run leg and fought on bravely to finish 24^th.

“The x-rays showed there was a shadow on the left side of his lung and he is undergoing a CAT Scan and other tests to determine the diagnosis,” said Australia’s High Performance Manager Michael Flynn.

“The Triathlon Australia team doctor spoke to Brad and the doctor at the hospital in San Diego and he will hopefully have some answers within the next 24 hours.

“Our doctor has told us that there is a possibility that Brad could have tuberculosis or even pneumonia – the next day or so will confirm that.

“For the moment we have to assume that it is tuberculosis and Brad has to remain in isolation until they determine the diagnosis one way or the other.”

Kahlefeldt was due to fly out for a training camp in Majorca, Spain today in preparation for the next round of the ITU World Championship Series in Madrid on May 26 and 27 but will not be allowed to travel or train until he receives the all clear.

After an eight-women bike breakaway put 2 minutes and 30 seconds on the first chase group coming out of T2, Jenkins and Australia’s Erin Densham went to the lead into the first lap of the 10km run. In see-sawing battle between the Australian Olympic hopeful and Jenkins, Densham pulled away to almost 10 metres in front in second lap before Jenkins stunningly reeled in the difference and turned the tables. In an incredible second half, she went ahead to record a time of 1 hour 58 minutes and 21 seconds, over a minute ahead of Densham’s time of 1:59:26. The USA’s Laura Bennett claimed third, her first series podium, and with it her second consecutive Olympic Games berth.

(Australian women’s race report)

Jenkins said it had been hard, but the support on the run had helped her through.

San Diego Women's Podium - Credit: triathlon.org / Rich Cruse / ITU

“It was just such a good race, we really had to work really hard for that. I really pushed the swim and we really worked hard on the bike and that was hard all the way,” Jenkins said. “I really enjoyed the run course, it was really cool, there was so many people out there supporting…it was awesome.”

Densham’s third consecutive major podium for 2012 was a huge boost for her own Olympic selection hopes. Densham was the first Australian, with Emma Moffatt finishing ninth, Ashleigh Gentle 10th, Emma Jackson 14th and Emma Snowsill 17th. So far, only Moffatt has been named in the Australian team for London.

“I was hurting out there, I just hope I’ve done enough. Ideally I would have taken a break after Sydney and not raced here, but I’ve had to push through and I really do hope that’s enough,” Densham said.

In the nail biting race for the third USA women’s spot, Bennett chose the perfect time to record her first series podium. Given that Gwen Jorgensen and Sarah Groff both qualified their places in London last year, the battle for the third women’s spot was expected to come down to Bennett and another Beijing Olympian Sarah Haskins. It turned out to be exactly that, as both were in metres of each other for almost the entire race. It was only in the final lap of the run that Bennett knew she had claimed her second consecutive Olympic Games spot, after she finished fourth at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

“It’s tough when you have go up against a good friend,” Bennett said. “I put a lot of pressure on this day, last year in London I just had a terrible day for some reason, I’m still just not quite sure what happened. In the end I think it was a blessing in disguise because there was things that I changed in my training that I wouldn’t have changed if I had made the team and I think it has made me a better athlete, it’s hard to have the courage to change things when things are going well. So, I’m really happy.”

The first ITU race in San Diego, the original birthplace of modern triathlon started under a clear blue sky. Jenkins, Densham, Bennett, Haskins, Vicky Holland, Sarah Groff, Flora Duffy and Jessica Harrison exited the swim first.  While they had a lead of almost 30 seconds on the rest of the field leaving T1, they worked quickly to extend that to almost a minute at the end of the first lap. Taking turns at the front to drive the pace, that lead group extended the gap at every one of the eight laps of the bike.

Ashleigh Gentle stating her case for Olympic Selection - Credit: triathlon.org / Larry Rosa / ITU

Behind them two distinct chase packs came together halfway through to make one main chase of 30 women that included Moffatt, Snowsill, Emma Jackson, Gentle, Liz Blatchford, and Anne Haug. A third chase pack then formed about two minutes behind the first, which included Gwen Jorgensen,  Daniela Ryf and Carole Peon.

Leaving T2, the front group had a lead of 2 minutes and 30 seconds on the rest and while it was clear that the podium places would come from that lead group of eight, the outcome was far from decided. At first, Jenkins, Holland and Bennett moved ahead in a frenetic first lap, but then Haskins bridged up. Halfway through, it looked like a battle between Jenkins, Densham, Haskins and Bennett.

Haskins then dropped off, and Densham and Jenkins pulled off the front to engage in their own battle. Jenkins’ run split was the fastest of the day, at 33 minutes and 34 seconds, to take a commanding victory, ahead of Densham. Bennett held on for third, but only just staved off a late charge from Harrison who completed an incredible last lap to finish fourth. Holland’s fifth place will mean plenty for her own Olympic selection, as only Jenkins is currently on the British Olympic team for the women, while Bermuda’s Flora Duffy confirmed her place in London and kept up her incredible form just one week after taking her first World Cup win in Huatulco.

Germany’s Anne Haug completed the second fastest run of the day – her and Jenkins were the only two women to run under 34 minutes – to finish seventh. While she is still Germany’s fourth women on the Olympic rankings list, it was a boost for her own selection chances as so far only Anja Dittmer has been selected. It also makes it tough for Switzerland to now qualify three spots for London, as Haug is on the verge of overtaking Daniela Ryf – who failed to finish in San Diego. A total of 12 women didn’t finish in a tough race, including Lisa Mensink, Debbie Tanner and Kathy Tremblay who withdrew after a crash leaving T1.

Haskins finished up in eighth place while Moffatt and Gentle rounded out the top ten, making it three Aussies in the top ten.

In the race that had a huge impact on the Olympic picture, Brownlee was part of a small break at the start of the bike. However that didn’t last long, as a huge pack of over 50 athletes hit T2 together. From there it came down to the run, and Brownlee and Murray charged to the front on the first lap. They went toe to toe for almost half of the 10km run, before Brownlee laid down the trademark family kick to win in 1 hour 48 minutes and 47 seconds, his first race in almost seven months.

(Australia Men’s Race Report)

Jonathan Brownlee pulling away from Richard Murry - Credit: triathlon.org / Rich Cruse / ITU

“For me it was the first race of the season, I didn’t really know what to expect,” Brownlee said. “Seven months is a long time out, I was in a bit of shock at the race briefing thinking wow, ‘It’s been a long long time since I’ve been in one of these,’ I went into the race very relaxed really because I knew I didn’t have to do anything, I didn’t have to finish top nine, top four or anything, I just had to race my own race, and yeah, I was pleased.”

“The swim and the bike were good, I wasn’t sure what to expect on that, but I have been running well all winter and my cross country races have been good. I felt good on the run. I felt a bit tired towards the end, I think I lacked a bit of racing there. Sven Riederer is a tough guy, he’s chased me down a few times before, in Beijing he chased me down down and he never gives up. Someone offered me a Yorkshire flag towards the end and I was to tired to take it, I thought I’m not going for that in case I blew up towards the end, I thought that would look a bit silly. It was a good race, I’m pleased to win, it shows that the training has gone well over the winter and I’m looking forward to the next race really.”

Behind him, Riederer and Spain’s Mario Mola were catching Murray, and Riederer eventually passed Murray to stamp another series medal onto his resume. It was enough for 2004 Athens Olympics bronze medallist to confirm his London 2012 Olympics spot, and also means he is now the equal most successful man in series history without a win. Riederer now has five medals, three bronze and two silver, alongside Alexander Bryukhankov. Riederer said his race strategy came off perfectly.

“I tried to save my energy on the bike, I was riding at the end of the pack and then in the end I was pushing for transition, and the race was just perfect, it went so well and I could run my perfect technique,” Riederer said. “For the Olympic qualifier, I needed to have a top 15 today and I have it so I’m very happy.”

Murray’s bronze medal added another brilliant turn in his stunning rise. In his first ITU World Triathlon Series race this year in Sydney, he claimed Africa’s first series medal with silver. The result in San Diego means that Murray is also now the 2012 ITU World Triathlon Series rankings leader, another first for an African athlete. He said afterwards if someone had told him he would be in that position, last year, he wouldn’t have believed them.

“I would have said you would have had to be lying to me, because I don’t think that would be possible,” Murray said. “I think Jonathan is definitely in a league of his own, because I tried to hold onto him but he managed to surge and I was actually on the limit and then Sven he ran with me for a bit and then he also had another gear so I was just holding on for dear life. I was expecting probably a top 10 because on the second lap I was cramping up… it was so hard out there today.”

But the excitement wasn’t finished there, as just like the battle between Laura Bennett and Sarah Haskins in the elite women’s race, the fight to decide who would be on the men’s U.S. Olympic team went down to the nerve-wracking wire. Matt Chrabot, Jarrod Shoemaker, Manuel Huerta and Hunter Kemper were the main contenders and all left T2 within 20 seconds of each other. Huerta went with the leaders early, and at one point was sitting in fifth place, while Kemper steadily worked his way through the field.

Heading into the final lap, Huerta was in sixth and Kemper ninth, before the veteran pulled off an incredible last kilometre surge to finish in fifth. Huerta held on for ninth, which meant both booked their tickets to London. It means Kemper has qualified for his fourth consecutive Olympics, joining a club of only a select few.

In another beautiful sunny San Diego day, tactics were on display from the start of the elite men’s race. New Zealand’s Kris Gemmell, who already had his Olympic spot, took the widest possible entry into the water to ensure maximum running time and it paid off as he came out of the two-lap swim in a lead group of nine. That group, which included Brownlee, Chrabot, Ivan Vasiliev, Ivan Rana and Alessandro Fabian, led for the first two laps but a chase pack that had Riederer, Murray, Shoemaker, Kemper, William Clarke, Simon Whitfield, Brent McMahon, Kyle Jones, Courtney Atkinson, Ryan Sissons, Bevan Docherty, Joao Silva and Brad Kahlefeldt attacked and cut a 20-second lead to ten second before catching the leaders in the third of eight laps.

The third chase group – led by Chris McCormack and Tim Don – then also caught the leaders and for the final three laps a huge group of over 50 athletes rode together, leaving only a small group of eight, including Brendan Sexton, Jan Van Berkel and Dan Alterman at the back around two minutes behind. While a few athletes attempted a break, including Japan’s Yuichi Hosoda who went off the front, none managed to get away as almost all of the field reached T2 en masse.

In a frenetic first lap of the run, Brownlee and Murray went off the front but the battle for the top 10 unfolded behind them. Don, who was chasing his fourth Olympics berth and a chance to be GB’s third team member with the Brownlees, initially led the chase with Riederer, Gemmell, Kahlefeldt, Sissons, Docherty, Mola and Silva just behind. Just behind them were Atkinson and Whitfield, locked in an important Olympic qualifying battle, and the final few kilometres saw position changes and athletes fading as plenty put it all on the line. Mola finished fourth, the second time he’s just missed the podium this year after also finishing fourth in Mooloolaba.

Whitfield’s 11th place didn’t allow him to overtake Atkinson, but he did move ahead of Portugal’s Joao Pereira, which right now gives Canada three men’s spots at London 2012, while Portugal dropped back down to two. Canada is in eighth out of eight NOCs who can qualify the maximum, and Australia in seventh. The New Zealand Olympic team of Docherty, Gemmell and Sissons secured their three spots after all three finished in the top-10. It moved New Zealand to third in the list of eight teams, ahead of France and Spain.

Triathlon.org for further details

Just one race remains inside the selection nomination period and that’s in Madrid on May 26 and 27 when final Olympic places for Federations and individual spots can be determined.

(Full men’s race report)

Triathlon Australia will make its final nominations to the Australian Olympic Committee on May 31.

Chris McCormack has given it all - Credit: triathlon.org / Larry Rosa / ITU

In a spectacular race around Mission Beach today, it was Beijing Olympian Courtney Atkinson who was the best placed of the Australian contingent, with an encouraging 13^th.

It puts his Olympic campaign back on track and helps Australia remain very much in the hunt as one of the leading top eight countries that can field a maximum three place based on the ITU Olympic rankings.

Atkinson’s performance will certainly play a large part in helping boost Australia’s chances of fielding those maximum three places, along with the powerful Canadian contingent and Portugal, who have dropped back.

Atkinson, who has been in San Diego preparing for the past month was always in contention for a top ten placing and finished just behind Canadian pair, Sydney 2000 Olympic gold medallist Simon Whitfield 11^th and Kyle Jones, 12^th.

In the race up front, there was no stopping Jonathan Brownlee who again stamped himself as one of the favourites for London 2012 (with brother and world champion Alistair) with a runaway win after dominating the swim, the bike and a tear away run.

ITU or Tour De France?

Brownlee always seemed to be in control and he raced away from Switzerland’s Sven Reiderer and newly appointed ITU World Series leader, Richard Murray (RSA).

But as the day unfolded around the picturesque seaside area of Mission Beach, it was the races within the races that added so much excitement and intrigue, as athletes vied for Olympic selection.

The Australian contingent of Atkinson, the already qualified Brad Kahlefeldt, the legend Chris McCormack who is trying fort his first Olympic team, the man most likely in Brendan Sexton and the up-and-comer Aaron Royle were determined to make their presence felt.

With confirmation of a third Olympic berth up for grabs and a maximum of two more places for London yet to be determined there was always plenty at stake.

Atkinson was well placed in the top 10 out of the swim and stuck fast on the bike as over 50 riders came together before a solid 10km run.

Brownlee has just kicked away from Murray on the run

With around 500 metres to run it was Atkinson who took off and ran past Canadian rival Whitfield, with both Australia and Canada vying for those vital rankings points.

“It was certainly a much better performance from Courtney, he has re-adjusted his training and we saw a big improvement. He is now very much back on track,” said Australian head coach Shaun Stephens.

“In hindsight he probably kicked a little too early, allowing Whitfield and the other Canadian the chance to kick back which they did, but it was still a good effort.”

Australia’s other contenders Kahlefeldt finished up 26th, the ever present McCormack 30^th, Royle 44^th and Brendan Sexton, who was well back in the swim 56^th.

But for the majority of the race the Australians were all well positioned, with Royle putting together his usual solid swim-bike; Kahlefeldt was in the top 10 at the start of the run while McCormack was challenging for the lead towards the end of the bike.

While it was a heartening return to the Series, after choosing not to race in Sydney three weeks ago – there will be some anxious waiting for Atkinson, Sexton and McCormack with Olympic selection up for grabs.

Densham said immediately after the race that she “hopes that’s enough” after putting in another impressive performance following her win in opening ITU round in Sydney three weeks ago.

Erin Densham pictured wining the Sydney ITU WTS race 2012

The 26-year-old Sydney-born Victorian could not match Great Britain’s world ranked number one and reigning world champion Helen Jenkins who kicked away on the second of three 3.3km laps on the run to clinch the gold medal.

Jenkins, who secured a place for a home Olympics in the London ITU Test event last year, will now be the favourite to win Olympic gold.

Third home and clinching the final place on the US team was 37-year-old Laura Bennett, wife of former Australian Olympian Greg Bennett, who will now have the chance to atone for her fourth place in Beijing.

All eyes were on the Australian girls today, with just one more race to be contested (in Madrid) before the London team is finalised on May 31 with London-bound former world champion Emma Moffatt ninth, the emerging star Ashleigh Gentle 10^th, Emma Jackson 14^th and reigning Olympic champion Emma Snowsill 17^th.

With Moffatt already pre-nominated there are two places to be finalised by the end of the month.

Australian head coach Shaun Stephens said there were certainly improvements across the board from the Australian girls after Sydney but they still “lacked a gear.”

“Jenkins was in a league of her own today – an amazing performance all round to work as hard as she did in the swim and the bike and then kick away on the run – it was her day and she fully deserved the win,” said Stephens.

“We knew it would be a swim-bike day and that’s the way it panned out and full marks to Erin for putting herself in the best possible position out of the swim and throughout the bike but even Erin lacked the gear she had in Sydney.

“But a second podium from two starts for her is fantastic and she has had as great start to the season.”

Stephens said to have three Australians in the top ten was an encouraging day and with three months before the Olympics there was still time to put it all together.

“Moffatt probably should have been with that lead group after a good first lap of the swim but was in the chase group on the bike but then worked hard to put together a great run as did Gentle who at 20 is showing great promise – four top 10 finishes from four World Championship races is pretty impressive.

“For Jackson and Snowsill, there were also some encouraging signs, with Snowsill again running throughout the pack.”

Densham, who had surgery to correct her accelerated heart rate two years ago, was always well positioned and worked the second 750m lap of the swim which saw Moffatt and Jenkins dominate early, with Moffatt using her surf wading skills to ensure she had some clear water.

The ITU Sydney race winner knew she had to be in the lead group coming out of the water to stay in touch with Jenkins and the US trio Bennett, Sarah Groff and Sarah Haskins.

Densham, who spent two weeks in Scottsdale Arizona preparing for this race, hooked into a lead group of eight including Jenkins, Bennett, Groff, Haskins, Jessica Harrison (FRA), Vicky Holland (GBR), and Colorado-based Flora Duffy (Bermuda) that had the perfect ride.

They extended their lead throughout the bike to two minutes 20 seconds to ensure the likes of Snowsill, Moffatt, Jackson and Abram were all well away from the podium.

Densham came through the bike transition well placed behind Bennett, chasing an Olympic spot with Haskins, Holland and the ever present Jenkins, who doesn’t appear to have a weakness.

The group of eight quickly became a lead group of four with Jenkins, already on the British team, Densham, chasing a spot on the Australian team and Bennett and Haskins both desperate to claim the final spot on the US team with Groff and Gwen Jorgensen.

But as the women got into their stride it was Jenkins who took off on the second 3.3km lap and Densham, who admitted she gave her body a well deserved rest after the Sydney race, just could not go with the world’s number one.

• Sat May 12: Ironman Asia-Pacific Championship, 1-2pm
• Sun May 13: Ironman Asia-Pacific Championship, 4.30-5.30pm (repeat)
• Wed May 16: ITU World Championship Triathlon Round 2 San Diego Womens Race, 12-2.30pm
• Thur May 17: ITU World Championship Triathlon Round 2 San Diego Mens Race, 12-2.30pm
• Fri May 18: ITU World Championship Triathlon Round 2 San Diego Highlights, 6-7am
• Mon May 21: ITU World Championship Triathlon Round 2 San Diego Womens Race, 6-8.30am (repeat)
• Mon May 21: ITU World Championship Triathlon Round 2 San Diego Mens Race, 8.30-11am (repeat)
• Wed May 23: ITU World Championship Triathlon Round 2 San Diego Highlights, 2-3am (repeat)
• Sat May 26: Ironman Australia 2011, 6-7am
• Sat May 26: ITU World Championship Triathlon Round 2 San Diego Highlights, 7-8am (repeat)

There will be plenty at stake in both the women’s race featuring the already nominated Emma Moffatt and the next three major contenders Emma Snowsill, Erin Densham and Emma Jackson (Race starting 7am Saturday, AEST) and for the men with already nominated Brad Kahlefeldt and contenders Brendan Sexton, Courtney Atkinson and Chris McCormack (starting 7.30am Sunday, AEST). See below for complimentary TRIATHLON TV  MEDIA LOG IN.

Two spots for the 2012 London Olympic team remain open for both the women and the men, with Triathlon Australia to finalise its Olympic team on May 31, after the third round of the ITU World Series in Madrid (May 26,27).

For the men the pressure will not only be on to press for their own selection claims but also Australia’s neck-and-neck battle with Canada and Portugal to secure a third position open to the leading eight countries (based on the ITU points standing of their third athlete).

It could well come down to a race in two between two of the sport’s most celebrated athletes in Canada’s 2000 Olympic champion Simon Whitfield and Australia’s 2008 Beijing Olympian Courtney Atkinson.

Australia is currently sitting in eighth and Canada in ninth, which means right now Canada can only send two men and where each man ends up this weekend could determine which country sends three athletes to London.

Here is a look at both races in San Diego, which will be crucial for Olympic selection and points standings for many countries.

WOMEN’S PREVIEW – START LIST

Australia's Women Battling for Olympics Spots at Sydney 2012

Beijing Olympian Erin Densham goes into this race as the form Australian athlete after her last start win in the opening ITU Sydney World Championship race and her previous win in the gruelling ITU World Cup in Mooloolaba. Densham has been in a triathlon hub that is Scottsdale, Arizona preparing for San Diego and will again take her relaxed personality from the desert to the beach for this make-or-break race. Reigning Olympic champion Emma Snowsill and 2011 ITU World Championship fourth placegetter Emma Jackson, have both prepared at home, Snowsill on the Gold Coast and Jackson with her QAS squad in Brisbane. Snowsill (14^th in Sydney) is certain to be better for her first outing and Jackson will be out to ensure her 33rd in Sydney will be a distant memory come Saturday. Emma Moffatt, with her London bags packed, has also done her thing under coach Craig Walton on the Gold Coast and she will be looking to improve on her 13^th in Sydney, with her sights set on the London podium in August. Also keep an eye on the vastly improved Ashleigh Gentle – a Moffatt training partner who was 10^th in Sydney and Felicity Abram, who withdrew from Sydney with an injured hip.

Erin Densham says: “There is no doubt that in this race, the swim leg will be massive. It’s also a selection race for the US and they have some very good swimmers…it wouldn’t surprise me to see a few of them up the road after the swim. After Sydney I had a good break; I figured my body deserved it and all I did was swim two kilometres a day…but now I’m feeling great and ready to race again.”

Ones to beat: Reigning world champion, the talented Brit Helen Jenkins (GBR) will again be the one to beat while the US connection Sarah Groff, Gwen Jorgensen, Laura Bennett and Sarah Haskins will lead the home town heroes. Groff and Jorgensen already have their Olympic passports stamped so it will be up to Bennett (wife of 2008 Australian Olympian Greg Bennett) and Haskins to snare that final US spot with a top nine finish.

MEN’S PREVIEW START LIST

Aaron Royle redlining in Sydney ITU 2012

Brendan Sexton has again added Scottsdale, Arizona to his training schedule and has enjoyed the company of his VIS team mates Densham and Peter Kerr in the lead up to the San Diego race. Sexton has been in the US for the past two weeks at what he describes as a “low key training camp and away from the hustle and bustle” while Brad Kahlefeldt has put together some impressive training on the Gold Coast after his DNF in Sydney, determined to race back into Olympic form as has Atkinson who decided against starting in Sydney to set himself for San Diego. The “old fox” Chris McCormack has been living the life in LA training and racing, where he won the Olympic Distance Champions of Wildfire at Lake San Antonio, which attracted 4500 starters last weekend. Kerr and Oceania Champion Aaron Royle will round out the Aussie men who will all be out to salvage some pride and prove there is still plenty of fight in their legs.

Brendan Sexton says: “We came to Scottsdale, Arizona twice last year and we are back for two reasons. Firstly, the training locations here are perfect (if you don’t mind the heat). There are hills, flats, trails, pools and plenty of room to move out among the cactus and secondly you can be assured that nine days out of ten the weather is absolutely predictable – long, hot and sunny. As always my expectations are just beyond what I’ve done in the past. I’ll be aiming to finish better than I have at this level before…..so that’s a podium finish.” 

Ones to beat: With world champion and Olympic favourite Alistair Brownlee still in the wings recovering from his Achilles problems it will be little brother Jonathan who will make his season debut and fly the Union Jack while the NZ Olympic team of Kris Gemmell, Bevan Docherty and Ryan Sissons are certain to keep everyone honest.

Final Word – Australian Head Coach Shaun Stephens:  “I’m expecting the races to be fast and tactical. With Olympic qualification up for grabs, Olympic selection for a number of countries and other athletes in full preparation for London, there will be a lot of races within races.

“I’m expecting the Aussie men to perform to the level they have been demonstrating in training. All of our senior men are capable of delivering a top performance on the weekend, based on what we have seen in training, and they need to step up and deliver.

“I’m expecting the women’s race to be a very fast swim and our girls need to be aggressive and prepared to fight their way through to the front of the swim pack. If they are well positioned out of the water, all six of our girls are amongst the best runners in the triathlon world and are capable of a podium.”

COURSE PROFILE (Courtesy of ITU): Swim (1.5km) – The swim will take place in Bonita Cove; athletes will complete two laps of a 750m course from a beach start. Click here for swim map

Bike (40km) - Athletes will complete eight laps of a 5km bike course that goes from T2 along Mission Boulevard, out and Over West Mission Bay Drive, including a short leg down Gleason Drive near Santa Barbara Cove, and back again. Click here for bike map. Run (10km) – A three-lap beachside run that sees athletes right on the water at Mariners Basin before looping back on the other side of the main street in Mission Bay, Mission Boulevard. Click here for run map

On the women’s side there is no doubt that Erin Densham will join Emma Moffatt on the team based on her recent results and return to form. The differences of opinion between the selection team and the TA board most likely surround Emma Jackson and Emma Snowsill with Ashleigh Gentle also now throwing her hat in to the ring. Jackson was the highest ranked Australian ITU athlete last year and finished 4th in the world championship series. She is a star of the future and is looking for consistent form in 2012. Snowsill must have thrown a spanner in the works at Sydney with her late charge through the field. This showed some of her form of old and that her injury issues may be behind her. TA must be thinking that Snowsill may be able to perform on the big stage and provide the medals that TA are under pressure to provide the Australian Sports Commission. One big question is whether Snowsill has been mentally on her game. Gentle has also been performing better than these two and finished ahead of them in Sydney.

On the men’s side things are murkier than the women. The big curve ball was Chris McCormack being the first Australian in Sydney. Both Brad Kahlefeldt and Brendan Sexton where non finishers. Sexton has been the better performer in the big events over the last year but has been off the pace a few times in the swim. Macca also is off the pace in the swim slightly and is expending a lot of energy getting on to the front bunch on the bike. The Australian team needs three members who can medal and not two plus a domestique. If we have a domestique then he has to be able to pull two sub 30min runners to the front of the pack. Atkinson has been off his game and hasn’t looked like threatening. Up and coming youngster Aaron Royle has shined at a few races this year and is a very strong swimmer usually. He could be a dark horse. In addition there are a number of other young ITU guys who are all capable of racing at the highest level. No doubt we will get some comments saying we have missed ‘so and so’ but these are the guys that TA is looking at.

At Sydney it was obvious who the crowd wanted in the team. Chris McCormack was by far the man the crowd wanted to see racing. The punters loved it when he started the run right at the front and every time he ran past the cheers were loudest. You could see that Macca was giving it 150% in Sydney. Macca almost took out the Australian Sprint title in Geelong earlier this year. If it wasn’t for a 15sec penalty he would now have that title.

We still have to wait to see who will wear the Green and Gold in London but below should clear up when we will know. There is no doubt that if Macca was picked it would certainly bring more attention to the sport and he would leave no questions on the training grounds in an effort to medal in London.

TA Release

Triathlon Australia (TA) recently announced the appointment of TA Board member Mr Anthony Beven to the role of Chair of the TA Elite Selection Committee (TAESC). Mr Beven replaces Dr Michelle Gallen who has stepped down from the position.

TA CEO Anne Gripper has today welcomed the appointment of Mr Beven, a qualified lawyer and long-standing age group triathlete, who she says brings a highly-regarded level of expertise to the role.

“Anthony is a very astute member of the TA board who has been a keen observer of the sport all of his life and will step in as a perfect replacement given that the Nomination Criteria requires the Chair of the Selection Committee to be a member of the TA Board,” Ms Gripper said.

Ms Gripper has also confirmed Triathlon Australia’s process for nominating athletes to the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) for selection in the Australian Triathlon Team for the London Olympics.

“The process is being conducted in accordance with the ‘2012 Australian Olympic Team Triathlon Australia Nomination Criteria,’ Ms Gripper said.

“No Australian athlete met the automatic nomination criteria which required them to win the ITU World Triathlon Series race in London in August in 2011 and finish in the top three positions of the ITU World Championship Series ranking as at September 12, 2012.

“This meant that all nominations to the AOC would be based on the discretion of the Triathlon Australia Elite Selection Committee (TAESC).

“A key requirement in our Nomination Criteria, upon which all athletes rely, is that Triathlon Australia must nominate its final athletes to the AOC on May 31, 2012 and advice received from our legal advisors and from the AOC is that nominations cannot be made before this date.

“This means that results from the two ITU World Triathlon Series races in San Diego and Madrid or other relevant races, which occur before May 31, 2012, may be considered by selectors.

“Of particular relevance in the Nomination Criteria during the final period of nomination is the reference to ‘current form in races run over the Olympic Distance according to ITU rules.’

“It is in the best interests of our athletes that we undertake our Olympic selection process in strict accordance with the ‘2012 Australian Olympic Team Triathlon Australia Nomination Criteria’ – which were developed in consultation with athletes and approved by both Triathlon Australia and the Australian Olympic Committee in April 2011. The Nomination Criteria has been available on our website since that time.

“We have confirmed to members of our Olympic Shadow Team that we will be nominating athletes to the AOC on 31 May, thus enabling our athletes to consider including any remaining relevant races in their race programs up until that time.”

Australia may nominate up to three male athletes and three female athletes for London, depending on the number of qualifying places achieved through the Qualification Process conducted by the International Triathlon Union (ITU).

The final number of qualifying places obtained by each country will be confirmed by the International Triathlon Union, following the World Triathlon Series race in Madrid on May 26.

The majority of the Triathlon Australia Shadow team will continue to focus on their training and preparation for the San Diego ITU World Triathlon Series race on May 12 and 13.