Natalie Cracks Top 20 In Triathlon

NSW Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship holder Natalie Van Coevorden has pushed herself into the World Triathlon Championship Series (WTCS) top 20 after an encouraging performance on the sixth stop in Hamilton, Bermuda.

The world’s best triathletes gathered on the picturesque North Atlantic island and home to three time World, Olympic and Commonwealth Games champion Flora Duffy who delivered a dominant victory in front of her patriotic hometown fans.

Natalie led home the Australian contingent in 13th place after running through from the second chase pack on the bike followed by Kira Hedgeland (17th), Emma Jackson (18th) and Jaz Hedgeland (27th).

Natalie’s fellow Birmingham mixed relay bronze medallist, Sophie Linn was forced to retire from the race after lap three of the 38.5km technical bike course.

For Campbelltown’s Natalie it was just enough to land her into 20th place on the Maurice Lacroix Rankings with the WTCS Grand Final set down for Abu Dhabi from November 23-27 – Natalie recording the 10th fastest run of the day.

It follows a season that has seen Natalie finish 18th in Yokohama, 11th in Leeds and Montreal and 25th in Cagliari – also finishing 13th in the Commonwealth Games, where she too won bronze in the mixed relay.

After a busy Super League season, Natalie will now continue her heat training as athletes prepare for the expected sweltering conditions in Abu Dhabi – different to the rain and wind dished up in Bermuda.

Australian Elites now set their sights to Abu Dhabi, with Matt Hauser, Jake Birtwhistle, Brandon Copeland, Luke Willian, Natalie Van Coevorden, Charlotte McShane, Jaz Hedgeland, Emma Jackson and Sophie Linn set to take on one final race of the 2021/2022 season at the WTCS Grand Final, 25-26th November.

Replays of all the action can be found on TriathlonLIVE.tv >>

Article courtesy of Triathlon Australia