The State Aquathlon Championships will take place on the stunning Mullaloo Beach this Monday, 7 March 2022. More than 200 participants will spend their Labour Day Public Holiday running, swimming, and running again at the Joondalup Autumn Classic.
The event consists of a Trystars race (500m Run / 100m Swim / 500m Run), a Juniors race (1km Run / 300m Swim / 1km Run), a Short Course race (1km Run / 300m Swim / 1km Run), a Long Course race (2.5km Run / 1km Swim / 2.5km Run), a 1500m swim challenge and an Enduro Sprint (500m Run / 150m Swim / 500m Run / 150m Swim / 500m Run). The Long Course race is a WA State Sprint Series and an Age Group ITU World Championship Qualifying race.
New COVID-19 restrictions introduced by the WA Government from Thursday, 3 March 2022 means the event will have less spectators than originally anticipated. Only parents/guardians and other immediate family members of the competitors are permitted to attend the race and cheer them on. The new rules for community sport won’t stop the competition from heating up on course when the athletes display their skills in perfect race conditions.
After winning four straight Junior State Series titles in the 16-19 age group category, James Kjellgren-Lewis (Fremantle) will step up to the Open Male category for the State Aquathlon Championships. The seventeen-year-old will be put to the test as he races against reigning Open Category Triathlete of the Year (TOTY), Zeke Tinley (Bunbury) and experienced triathletes James Martin (Bunbury) and Guy Crawford (Fremantle). James Lewin (Stadium) and Daniel Buis (North Coast) will be debuting in this Triathlon WA State Series this long weekend.
Young gun Indie Arbuckle (Team XTR) will be looking to close the gap on the Female Open TOTY leaderboard between her and current leader, Aleisha Wesley (North Coast). Wesley has a five-race winning streak but is currently not on the start list. Seasoned athlete Kate Bevilaqua (Fremantle) will be racing for another podium finish after coming third at the Rockingham Foreshore Triathlon.
With Kjellgren-Lewis moving up to the Open Male category, there will be a battle for first place in the 16-19 Male age group category between Joshua Neervoort (Fremantle) and Jackson Shaw (Bunbury). Emily White (Exceed) will be adding to her TOTY lead in the Junior Female 16-19 category when she completes the long course race on Monday.
With a 35% increase in registrations compared to last year, including 144 juniors, it is sure to be a fantastic day of racing at the Joondalup Autumn Classic on Monday, 7 March 2022.