Para National Squad Take On Devonport
Donnacha McCarthy, Judith MacCombe, and Cassie Cava all commenced their 2024 season today at the World Triathlon Para Series in Devonport, Australia. Devonport hosted the first race in the 2024 World Triathlon Para Series with eighty of the World’s top para triathletes from twenty-two countries in the hunt for valuable points to secure their ticket for the Paris Paralympic Games.
The coastal town of Devonport is steeped in triathlon history, and the race commenced the season with a one lap 750m open water swim, with a deep water beach start. The 20km technical bike course consisted of six 3.4km laps that tested the athletes bike handling skills and agility. The race finished with a fast and flat two lap 5km run course. Devonport will also play host to the Oceania Triathlon Sprint Championships tomorrow.
Cassie Cava
Cassie Cava got her season underway in style at the World Para Triathlon Series in Devonport earlier today. The PTS3 athlete adds another gold to her international career tally. Of her fifteen elite international races, she has been on the podium a total of fourteen times, securing the top spot on eight occasions.
In the chase for Paralympic Triathlon slots, the women’s PTS3 category is currently joined with the PTS4 category. The top 9 ranked PTS4 athletes will combine with the top 5 PTS3 ranked athletes. Cava’s golden performance in Devonport brings her closer again to securing a Paralympic spot.
Judith MacCombe
Judith MacCombe and her guide, Eimear Nicholls, also started their season on a successful note, taking home bronze in the Women’s PTVI race. A strong running performance saw them come within 15 seconds of securing silver. The result could potentially make a significant difference to the current Paralympic rankings in the PTVI category, with MacCombe finishing ahead of several higher ranked athletes.
Donnacha McCarthy
Also in action in Devonport were Donnacha McCarthy and guide Sean Husband. Exiting the water a minute down on the other B1 athletes, McCarthy and Husband tore through T1 to start clawing back time on the field. The duo crossed the line in 6th position in the Men’s PTVI race, battling hard to come within seconds of the top 5.
The next opportunities for Para triathletes to challenge their Paralympic Rankings is the World Triathlon Para Cup in Yenisehir, Turkey, on the 21st of April, and the World Triathlon Para Triathlon Series race in Yokohama, on the 11th of May. In the meantime, attention turns to the Americas Triathlon Cup in La Paz, Mexico, tomorrow where James Edgar and Elizabeth Carr both line up to take on the Olympic Distance race in search of more World Triathlon Ranking points.
