Wollongong Olympic Distance Triathlon – Triathlon Australia World Champs Selection Race

The RMB Lawyers trithegong Triathlon Festival on March 8-10, 2013 has arguably NSW’s premier Olympic distance triathlon event in the weekend’s activities. Launched just two years ago this festival had just on 1400 competitors in 2012 and this year has the added bonus of being a selection race for the 2013 ITU World Championships in London.

Last year’s race was won by recent South Africa 70.3 winner Bart Aernouts who also recorded the fastest marathon at the Hawaii Ironman World Championships 2012.

With the Sydney ITU Age group Olympic distance race now removed from the calendar Wollongong is presented with a unique opportunity to stage a major triathlon. The city is perfect for this kind of event and with the support events such as the sprint and enticer triathlons along with the MINIMAN for the kids, ocean swim and fun run this is a great multisport festival.

The race precinct surrounds the harbour, utlises the lighthouse park and extends down to the stunning WIN Stadium, home to the St George Illawarra Dragons. Also the Five Islands Brewery and much more.

The new beach walkway has now been opened removing the hill in the run and taking athletes along the beach, past the cafes before heading out on the run.

Managing Director of Elite Energy Mark Emerton is excited to have secured the National Qualifying Series status for the Olympic Distance race. “This is a great opportunity for the region. As a local company we are passionate about bringing exciting sporting events to regions outside of Sydney and Wollongong is now one   of our most popular weekends of triathlon. Last year’s event doubled the previous year and we are expecting at least 1000 more competitors in 2013.”

Elite Energy partners with Wollongong’s Activate Events and Fitness to stage the Wollongong round of the triseries. Managing Director Rob Battocchio is equally excited about Triathlon Australia giving the event Australian qualifying status. “This triseries is a major event for Wollongong and has become bigger than expected already. We are excited about the future for the sport of triathlon in the region. Wollongong is home the NSW Institute of Sport high performance triathlon academy and we have many of the countries top elite and age group triathletes based here so to have a national class event like this is what the region should expect.