New Zealand’s Commonwealth Games campaign is expected to get off to a flying start, with six triathletes amongst the first Kiwis in action.
The men’s and women’s individual triathlon is being held on the first morning of competition (July 29th) with Nicole van der Kaay, Ainsley Thorpe, Andrea Hansen, Tayler Reid, Hayden Wilde, and Dylan McCullough set to represent New Zealand.
Bay of Plenty triathlete Hayden Wilde heads to Birmingham in career best form, having won the Hamburg leg of the World Triathlon Series earlier this month. The win followed a second placing in the series-opener in Yokohama, a maiden victory on the circuit in Leeds, and another second placing in Montreal.
“It’s been a really good build-up,” said Wilde.
“I’ve been in form and have been doing some speed work ahead of Birmingham and am really excited to get there and get stuck in.”
It will be the first Commonwealth Games for the 24-year-old, who last year stunned the triathlon world by winning Olympic bronze.
“I’m treating it like any other race, even though it’s a massive honour to be wearing the fern. For me I’ll be going full send and putting everything into the race.”
The race will be contested over a sprint distance’ of a 750m swim, 20km cycle and 5km run.
“There’s some great athletes from around the Commonwealth and anything could happen in a sprint race. I’ll be giving it everything I’ve got, I might come first, I might come last but I know I’ll give it my all.”
The New Zealand triathletes will be in action on July 29th in the individual events, with the mixed team relay to be contested on the 31st.