History awaits Ashleigh Gentle in bid for seventh Noosa crown
Rio Olympian Ashleigh Gentle is aiming for history when she hits the course in the Noosa Triathlon, an event she has won an incredible six times at just 28-years-old.
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Ashleigh Gentle is aiming to be in seventh heaven on Sunday.
The Rio Olympian will become the first competitor – male or female – to win seven Noosa Triathlon crowns if she can triumph in the elite women’s event at the 2019 instalment of the sport’s most famous event.
The 28-year-old Queenslander will surpass her former coach Craig Walton (six Noosa titles) having already gone past her hero Emma Snowsill (five Noosa titles) to occupy rarefied air.
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She finished second at Noosa in 2010 as a junior to serve notice of her impending domination before winning the event for the first time in 2012.
She was victorious again in 2014 and has not been beaten around Noosa since to leave her gunning for a sixth-straight win.
Gentle said she was in the right physical and mental condition for her assault on the record books.
“It will be new ground if I was to win a seventh and it would mean I have put in a good performance on Sunday which is what I am here to do,’’ Gentle said.
“I feel as though I am in the shape to do it. I really want to make sure I get the most out of myself.
“I am really proud of my record here. I look at the honour roll with people like Emma Snowsill and so many other people I’ve aspired to be like.
“To consistently be able to come back every year and race this race well is something I pride myself on.’’
And while Noosa is always a focus for Gentle, she has her sights firmly on the Tokyo Olympics next year.
The test event in Tokyo earlier this year was wiped as a qualification race when the run leg was shortened.
Australia’s Olympic team will be picked in May with selectors to make discretionary choices with no further qualifying events scheduled.
“I’ve been thinking about Tokyo since two month after Rio. It’s always a long-term plan but they are coming around really quickly now,’’ Gentle said.
“When everyone hears the word ‘discretionary’, people get anxious but I feel like I’ve put myself in a good spot.
“I won the (World Triathlon) Grand Final on the Gold Coast (in 2018), I’ve shown the selectors I can perform in big races when I’ve prepared well. I think I can repeat that kind of performance.’’
Gentle will race in China next week before embarking on her traditional end-of-year camping trip and will then map out her 2020 schedule.
Meanwhile, the “Super Saturday” cycling and running events will take place around Noosa Parade on Saturday before 8000 competitors gear up for the individual and team events in the Noosa Triathlon on Sunday morning.
SOUTH AFRICAN STAR EYES GLORY IN NOOSA
When South African triathlete Henri Schoeman sets his sights on something, he rarely misses.
And the reigning Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Rio Olympic bronze medallist and 2016 ITU grand final winner has been eyeing off the Noosa Triathlon.
The 28-year-old will add an international flavour to the men’s elite race on Sunday as well as being a genuine contender for the coveted title with past winners Aaron Royle and Jake Birtwhistle flying the flag for Australia.
Schoeman – who is No.5 in the ITU world rankings, No.7 in the World Triathlon Series rankings and eighth in the Olympic qualifying standings – is the brother of dual Olympic swimmer Riaan Schoeman who competed at Noosa last year and urged his sibling to also have a crack.
“I’ve had my eye on the Noosa Triathlon for the last four years and I’ve heard many good things about it. It’s the biggest triathlon in the world now,’’ he said.
“I’ve always been resting over this period and it’s a long trip from South Africa but I found myself on the road this year and I thought I’ve got some fitness so why not take on Noosa.
“It’s going to be a highly competitive race with Aaron and Jake. It’s a home race for them, they’ve both won here before so it’s going to be tough but I’m looking forward to hopefully dethroning Aaron.’’
Schoeman finished ninth in the Tokyo Olympic test event and has been doing his research on what conditions will confront the field next year given he is comfortably inside the South African qualifying requirements of being inside the world top 25.
“I have more experience and hopefully I’ve got a little more grit and endurance as well for Tokyo. There’s a bit of pressure there being a former medallist but it’s my dream to represent my country,’’ he said.
After winning the gold medal at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games last year, Schoeman is also considering making Queensland his training base.
Originally published as History awaits Ashleigh Gentle in bid for seventh Noosa crown
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