Aquathlon action to kick off a big week of multisport racing in Mexico

Published: 14th September 2016

The ITU World Triathlon Grand Final Cozumel gets underway today (Wednesday), with the 2016 Aquathlon World Championships. An Olympic legend and a strong Age-Group team are targeting medal success

Always well represented around the world, the British Age-Group team for the Aquathlon World Championships numbers well over 100 entries. With almost all Aquathlon events domestically held in swim-run format, it will be interesting to see how they cope with the run-swim-run, non-wetsuit format out in Mexico. That first transition is a very challenging one once in the water.

The flat and fast course comprises of a 2.5km opening run, 1km swim and then a second 2.5km run. The run course takes place around the FONATUR Marina, with the one-lap swim in the crystal clear waters of the Marina Sea. Current weather forecasts suggest that temperatures will be around 84°f for the race, which starts at 0800 local time.

12 months ago in Chicago the Age-Group team collected a medal haul of five Gold, four Silver and seven Bronze medals. Gordon Crawford (50-54) was one of the British World Champions last year, and he returns to try and defend that title. Three of the four Silver medal winners last year; Ted Hamilton (65-69), Alison Grinnell (40-44) and Peggy Crome (70-74), will also be hoping to step up one place on the podium this time around.

There could also be significant interest in the Elite race with the surprise entry of double Olympic Champion Alistair Brownlee. Richard Stannard (2003, 2006, 2011) and Tim Don (2005) are the previous British Male Elite winners of this event. Can the current dominant male triathlete of his generation had another title to his already impressive palmarès today?

Joining Alistair in the Elite races will be Richard Allen, who will be competing for honours in the Under-23 category.

Check out the links below, which indicate that finish line cameras, live timing and social media feeds will be provided during the race for you to follow the coverage from Cozumel.

Cozumel ITU Aquathlon World Championships
Wednesday 14 September 2016
2.5km run / 1km swim / 2.5km run

Race website: http://cozumel.triathlon.org

Event coverage: http://www.triathlon.org/live

Great Britain Elite athletes racing:

Elite Men: Alistair Brownlee
Under-23 Men: Richard Allen

Full start lists: http://wts.triathlon.org/start_lists/2016_cozumel_itu_aquathlon_world_championships

Schedule (local time):

0800 – Male Elite / U23 / Junior
0805 – Female Elite / U23 / Junior
0840 to 1000 – Age-Group wave starts