—Hoel posts career-best Junior World Championship result—

 

LAUSANNE, Sui.— Brock Hoel capped off a strong 2019 campaign with a solid seventh-place finish at the World Junior Triathlon Championships in Lausanne, Switzerland on Friday.

The 18-year-old Hoel battled through the sweltering heat in the Olympic city to clock a time of 55:36 in the sprint-distance format.

“I knew I had a massive target on my back going into the race so I tried to use this pressure to my advantage by staying calm and confident,” said Hoel, who was competing in his second World Championships. “I wanted to come away with a win to finish off the season. I’m pleased with this result, but not satisfied.”

The West Kelowna, B.C. native climbed out the water in third place, 20 seconds behind the leaders of the 750-metre swim. Hoel quickly put on his helmet and hopped onto his saddle for the 20-kilometre hilly and technical bike course where he settled into a pack of 10 athletes who charged out onto the first loop together. Before the first lap was done, the group grew to 32-deep with nobody willing to make a move for the remainder of the bike.

“I had a decent swim and was able to bridge up to the front by the top of the first hill (on the bike),” said Hoel. “I did my best to stay out of trouble on laps two and three before moving up on the last lap.”

 

Hoel was fourth in a group of 40 athletes who charged into second transition together and headed out onto the run in a good position.

“About two kilometres into the run, I felt good and decided to take the lead and push the pace. Unfortunately, my surge cost me on the second lap,” added Hoel. “I held my position the best I could, and sprinted to seventh place to end the day.”

 

Portugal’s Ricardo Batista won the race with a time of 55:05. Australia’s Lorcan Redmond placed second at 55:12, while Spain’s Sergio Baxter Cabrera won the bronze medal with a time of 55:16.

 

The top-10 finish capped off a strong season for the Canadian teenager, who capture his first CAMTRI victory earlier this summer in Mexico.

 

“I’m happy with my season overall. I was very consistent this year which shows my durability and the maturing I’ve done as an athlete,” added Hoel.

 

Pavlos Antoniades, of Trois-Rivières, Que., finished 16th at 55:56. Quebec’s Filip Mainville placed 28th (56:38).

Ontario’s Kira Gupta-Baltazar was the top Canadian in the junior women’s race, finishing 32nd with a time of 1:04:14.  Colette Reimer was 36th (1:04:38); and Alexandrine Coursol placed 48th (1:06:52).

 

Victoria’s Aiden Longcroft-Harris was the lone Canadian to finish the men’s Under-23 World Championship Olympic distance race. Longcroft-Harris clocked-in at 1:54:21 to secure 22nd spot. Charles Paquet, of Port Cartier, Que., was well positioned with the leaders on the bike course, but his day came to an end after sustaining a crash.

 

Complete Junior and Under-23 World Championship Results:  

https://www.triathlon.org/results/result/2019_itu_world_triathlon_grand_final_lausanne

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FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Chris Dornan

Triathlon Canada

T: 403-620-8731

E-mail: chris.dornan@triathloncanada.com