SAN DIEGO - In the second round of the ITU Triathlon World Champs series, two dutch women reached the criteria for participating at the London Olympics Games. The 11th place of Maaike Caelers and the 12th place of Rachel Klamer were both enough. After the World Champs of Madrid (last race for qualification) the offical London Olympic team will be confirmed.
The San Diego race finished badly for Lisa Mensink. A bikecrash early in the race dropped her out of the race and her Olympic campaign. For Jan van Berkel also the Olympic campaign ended. In San Diego, his last chance for qualifying, he could not reach the top 12 for qualifying.
SYDNEY - The 2012 triathlon season opener in the ITU triathlon World Champs series was hosted in Sydney, Australia. Five dutch women (Sarissa de Vries, Danne Boterenbrood, Rachel Klamer, Lisa mensink, Maaike Caelers) and Dutch man Jan Van Berkel were racing for Holland.
All dutch had a hard time on the last 10km running. All were seeking for Olympic spots in London. Therefore the allready nominated dutch triathletes (Klamer and Boterenbrood) needed a top 16. The others should make a top 12 to make it to the Olympic team.
Klamer finished 25th, De Vries 47th, Mensink 50th and Caelers 57th. Boterenbrood did not finish the race. Van Berkel finished 52nd.
The next round in ITU triathlon World champs serie will be helt in San Diego, may 12th. In this race the dutch triathletes will have a next chance to get there Olympic spots.
MOOLOOLABA (AUS) - The ITU triathlon World Cup Mooloolaba was the first 2012 race where the worlds best triathletes could compete against eachother. Rachel Klamer, who had a great swim, got in the first bikepack of 9 triathletes. On the run for a long time she battled with Liz Blatchford. By finishing 5th Klamer showed her readiness for the coming three World Champs series..
Sarissa de Vries and Maaike Caelers had it hard in the swim, lost time on the bike and ran through the finishline in places 32 and 33.
In the mens race Dutch Jan van Berkel finished 38th. In the Oceania (continental) cup Marco van der Stel finished 28th.
KINLONCH - The dutch team visited the city of Kinloch in preperation for the upcoming World Champs series in april/may of this year. The Kinloch race labeled as an Oceania cup and upgraded to Oceania Sprint Championships 2012. Rachel Klamer two weeks ago finishing 2nd in the Wanaka race, beated by one second by Nieuw Zealand Andrea Hewitt, had another good race by again finishing 2nd. Only this time New Zealand Kate Mcllroy was able to stay ahead Klamer. She was finishing 4 seconds for Klamer. Dutch Danne Boterenbrood finishing 7 seconds behind Klamer completed the podium. For Boterenbrood this 3rd place will give her confidence for the upcoming months. Other dutchies in de race: Maaike Caelers and Sarissa de Vries finishing 6th and 18th.
At the men event it was Dutch Jan van Berkel you showed his progression in the last month. Van Berkel since the end of december training under John Hellemans at trainingsbase at Nelson has a mission. To qualify for the olympics at the upcoming World Champs series. In this race in Kinloch Van Berkel did nog only finished 2nd, but he showed that his swim can keep him in the front pack. Memorable for Marco van der Stel was the Kinloch race. he finished 15th and grapped his first points for the ITU points list..
