Article from The Standard—5/6/2008

 

TRI DEAL: Student receives top-level offer

BY KATE BUTLER

5/06/2008 4:00:00 AM

On reflection. Triathlete Sarah Harkin, 16, has come a long way in a short time and has been selected in the Triathlon Victoria Development Squad and also received a Geelong High Performance Program scholarship. 080604GW45 Picture: GLEN WATSON

PLEASURE and pain.

That's what Sarah Harkin felt when she crossed the finishing line in her first triathlon eight months ago.

``I didn't feel too good,'' she said. ``But then I absolutely loved it.''

The 750-metre swim, 20kilometre ride and five-kilometre run was the starting point of the 16-year-old's triathlon career, which has received a sudden boost after she was awarded a Geelong High Performance Program scholarship.

The scholarship follows Sarah's selection in the Triathlon Victorian Development Squad two weeks ago.

``Both of them came as a surprise,'' the Warrnambool College student said.

The achievements are the biggest so far for Sarah, who took up the sport in November.

``I've always been a swimmer and decided to give a triathlon a go,'' she said.

Her first was the Gatorade series, where she finished third in the 15 to 19-year-old age group.

 

 

Since taking up triathlons, Sarah has trained under Jarrod Evans, who was impressed with Sarah's commitment after she continued to train with him in Geelong about twice a month despite moving back to Warrnambool following a boarding school stint.

The scholarship will offer financial assistance and see Sarah keep training in Geelong where she will receive a high level of coaching based on the Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) training program.

``The reason she was selected in the program was because she has very good foundations,'' Evans said.

``She's doing very well, and I'd like to have more face-to-face contact with her, but she has good swimming coaches in Warrnambool, a lot of her running is done through correspondence and it's more about improving her bike skills than making her go for long rides. This is all about looking at her values and then adding to them.''

The squad, made up of nine, will give Sarah a spot in the National ITU Series towards the end of the year.

The youngster said she was looking forward to the program and the squad. ``They're both stepping stones into the national teams,'' she said.

2007/2008 Season Report

 

The GHPTP athletes have not done a great deal of racing over the last 4 weeks, but the next 4-8weeks see’s a big jump in race participation and competition. 

Here’s what each athlete in our program is up to:

 

Jarrod Lindsay-King –

Brooks/Gatorade Series Race 1                             1st Place 12-14 Male

Brooks/Gatorade Series Race 2                             1st Place 12-14 Male

Brooks/Gatorade Series Race 3                             1st Place 12-14 Male

Brooks/Gatorade Series Race 4                             1st Place 12-14 Male

Brooks/Gatorade Series Race 6                             1st Place 12-14 Male

Orbea Triathlon VSSSA Series Race 1                    1st Place 12-14 Male

Orbea Triathlon VSSSA Series Race 2                    1st Place 12-14 Male

Orbea Triathlon VSSSA Series Race 3                    2nd Place 12-14 Male

Orbea Triathlon VSSSA Series Race 4                    1st Place 12-14 Male

Orbea Triathlon VSSSA Series Race 5                    1st Place 12-14 Male

National Schools Triathlong Championships         5th Place 12-14 Male

 

Matt Bailey –

Gatorade Series Race 1                                          11th Pro Male

Gatorade Series Race 6                                          8th Pro Male

National Series Circuit Event                                 23rd Junior Male (3 Race Series)

 

Scott McPherson –

Gatorade Series Race 1                                          3rd Place Junior elite Male

Gatorade Series Race 4                                          4th Place Junior elite Male

Gatorade Series Race 5                                          5th Place Junior elite Male

Gatorade Series Race 6                                          3rd Place Junior elite Male

National Schools Triathlon Championship            29th Place Under 19

 

Belinda Harrison –

China Ironman 2008                                               4th Pro Female

Malaysia Ironman 2007                                           5th Pro Female

Japan Ironman 2007                                              6th Pro Female

Busselton Ironman 2007                                         8th Pro Female

Yepoon Half Ironman 2007                                    7th Pro Female

Gold Coast Half Ironman 2007                               7th Pro Female

Orbea Triathlon Series Race 1                               1st 25-29 Female

Gatorade Series Race 1                                          1st 25-29 Female

Gatorade Series Race 6                                          1st 25-29 Female

 

Renee Lane –

China 70.3 2008                                                      1st Elite Female

Yepoon Half Ironman 2007                                    7th Pro Female

South Australian Sprint Distance Champs             2nd Pro Female

Gatorade Series Race 1                                          4th Pro Female

Gatorade Series Race 4                                          4th Pro Female

Gatorade Series Race 5                                          4th Pro Female

Gatorade Series Race 6                                          2nd Pro Female

Orbea Triathlon Series Race 1                               3rd Pro Female

Orbea Triathlon Series Race 6                               1st Pro Female

 

Bridgitte Burns –

Australian Triathlon Series/Under 23, Canberra                1st Place

Australian Triathlon Series/Under 23, Hobart                   2nd Place

Australian Triathlon Series/Under 23, Mooloolabah          1st Place

Australian Norther University Triathlon                             1st Place

Luke Harrop Memorial Race, Under 23, QLD                     1st Place