Newcastle’s paratriathlete Lauren Parker wins Oceania title on home roads
Hard work on her weakest leg has delivered paratriathlete Lauren Parker her first success in what is shaping as the biggest year of her career.
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Hard work on her weakest leg has seen Lauren Parker start the 2020 season the way she hopes to finish it - with a major title to her name.
The Newcastle triathlete overcame stifling humidity to race off with the Oceania title in her first race of the year on Sunday.
It is the first of three race crowns the 31-year-old hopes to defend ahead of the Paralympics in Tokyo from late August
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Next on the schedule for Parker is defending her title in Devonport, Tasmania, and then attempting to repeat this feat at the world championships in Milan, Italy, in May.
“This has given me a lot of confidence going forward,” said Parker on Sunday after beating Canberra’s Emily Tapp in their divisions at the Oceania titles.
“This had (Paralympic) qualifying points and was my first race of the season and I felt great out there.”
Parker said extensive work on improving her run leg paid off in the race involving a 750m swim in Newcastle Harbour, a 20km cycle and 5km run through Newcastle’s foreshore.
“I needed to improve on my run leg and I have,” said the wheelchair racer whose spinal cord was severed when she hit a guardrail at 45km/h after both her bike tyres blew.
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“I’ve increased the mileage, been working on my technique, just the little things, and it’s helped.”
Former world champion Tapp, who finished second, is also hoping to be racing at the Tokyo Paralympcis later this year.
“I love the humidity so it was nice to have a bit of a sweat today,’’ said the Canberra based triathlete.
Also tasting success at the Oceania championships was Wollongong’s Jonathan Goerlach.
The visually impaired triathlete is chasing his first Paralympic selection after his category failed to make the cut for the Rio Olympics.
“I had to pick another sport or just keep trying with this one so I stick with it,’’ said Goerlack, who races with guide Sam Douglas.
Originally published as Newcastle’s paratriathlete Lauren Parker wins Oceania title on home roads
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