LIZ DUNLOP QUALIFIES FOR TEAM GB AT 2025 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN AUSTRALIA

Wight Tri member and IW Talented Athlete Award member, Liz Dunlop, travelled to Cardiff to take on the Team GB 2025 Age Group World Championship qualifying event, at the Cardiff Sprint Triathlon. After the disappointment of missing out on competing in the European Middle Distance Championships in Portugal the previous weekend as a result of catching Covid 19, and although not fully recovered, Liz decided to take on the shorter distance to try for her qualification place. The 750m swim took place in the murky waters of Cardiff bay, with the 20km bike a 4 lap 5km closed road circuit around the city centre and the run an out and back 5km route around the bay. After training all winter with the main aim of the Middle Distance triathlon, this short course event was always going to be a shock to the system, and still recovering from covid, Liz knew that it was going to be a tough day! She did not have her best swim and came into T1 in 17:06 in 3rd position in her age group but unfortunately she had missed out on catching onto a pack on the draft legal course. She pushed hard on her solo ride, passing a few riders in the younger age groups to complete it in 41:03. With a solid run of 24:44, she finished in 1:26:29 and 3rd in the Vet 65-69 category but had gained the qualification slot that she had hoped for. Liz did not feel strong at any time throughout the race, but was happy to finish and achieve her target of the qualification for the Age Group World Sprint Championships in Wollongong, Australia in 2025.