Lauren Parker claims Oceania paratriathon win on home roads at Newcastle

More than a decade after she contested her first ever triathlon on home roads in Newcastle Lauren Parker has won her first Oceania title as a paratriathlete at the same race.

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More than a decade after she contested her first ever triathlon on home roads in Newcastle Lauren Parker has won her first Oceania title as a paratriathlete at the same race.

Parker defeated world champion and Commonwealth Games silver medallist Emily Tapp for the Oceania crown at the Newcastle City Triathlon - a race she contested for the first time 11 years ago.

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Parker, who broke her back in a high-speed training accident in 2017 and now races in a wheelchair and hand cycle, dominated the 750m harbour swim, 20km cycle and 5km wheelchair finale for a special win in front of family and friends on home turf.

Lauren Parker crashing before claiming bronze at last year’s Commonwealth Games.

“It was windy and raining at the start but fortunately the rain held off for the bikie and run legs,’’ said Parker, whose win will go towards her ranking for the world championships in Lausanne later this year.

“It was good it was tough. It’s an important win for me.’’

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Parker finished second in the 25-29 age group division at the 2015 Hawaiian ironman triathlon world championships and had only just recently made the decision to turn professional when she hit a guard rail at 45km/h while bike training for the Australian ironman championships in April 2017.

Lauren Parker after her medal win on the Gold Coast last year.

Parker broke her back, rib, scapula and pelvis in the accident and also punctured a lung and was paralysed from the waist down.

But her love for triathlon saw her return to the racetrack nine months later as a paratriathlete with the help of Paralympic legend Kurt Fearnley.

Parker said she will undergoing another bout of surgery in March to remove two rods and screws from her back which will hopefully alleviate back pain and give her more flexibility.

But prior to the surgery she will race again in the Devonport paratriathlon world cup on March 2.