By Kent Gray/Triathlon.kiwi
Eva Goodisson and Lachlan Haycock headline the early elite entries as the field for the EVES Surfbreaker Triathlon on December 27 takes shape.
Goodisson will make her first appearance of the domestic summer in Mt Maunganui after her career-best 7th place at World Cup Miyazaki in Japan in late October.
Haycock, meanwhile, will line up fresh from his dominant victory at last month’s Suzuki New Zealand Standard Distance Championship at Triathlon Tauranga’s annual Tinman Triathlon.
On the calendar since 1985 and celebrating its 38th anniversary in its traditional post-Christmas slot, the EVES Surfbreaker is one of New Zealand’s oldest triathlons. It will again be run over the sprint distance but split evenly into two Super League-esque swim-bike-run laps, each encompassing 375m of swimming, 10km of Marine Parade cycling and 2.5km of running with a leg-sapping 800m kicker to finish on the main Maunganui Beach.
Goodisson threw herself firmly into Paris ’24 consideration with her performance in Japan.
The Havelock North 24-year-old will face competition on December 27 from fellow Tri NZ squad members Hannah Howell, Sophie Spencer, Olivia Cummings with juniors Amara Rae, Lulu Johnson and Charlotte Brown others to watch.
Brown was recently an Auckland College Sports Youth Sports Person of the Year finalist and awarded Dux Ludorum at Waitakere College for her outstanding achievements in triathlon.
Race Director Paul Miller is hopeful Nicole van der Kaay will return to defend the women’s title. Hayden Wilde, wintering in Belgium, won’t be back but Miller has fingers crossed van der Kaay and partner Tayler Reid will incorporate the Surfbreaker into their early summer training block.
Reid was runner-up to Wilde last year with Trent Thorpe, a notable entry in the elite field for next weekend’s Ironman 70.3 Taupo, third.
Haycock was fourth and will have whippersnappers Austin Carter, Christian Davy, Henry McMecking, Luke Kuggelejin and William Taylor pushing him on December 27.
The EVES Surfbreaker is Tri NZ endorsed ‘community event’ and has options for all ages and abilities. You can ENTER HERE
