|
Nicole Hackett Shrine | A
page about Aussie Triathlete Nicole Hackett
|
|
|
|
HARROP'S STING
SPARKS SCARE
AUS.TEAM TO WORLDS = DEPLETED
'BLATCH' SET TO BECOME A 'BRIT'
Loretta
Harrop's prepartion
for the upcoming World Championships in Spain suffered a
momentary setback after what must have been a horror
experience while racing in Japan in one of their ITU World
Cup races held on May 9. The race, a maiden win on the World
Cup scene for Australia's Maxine Seear (Congrats to her! - reporting of the race here
- from TA), was over early for Harrop after being stung by
an unknown creature in the swim leg, severe swelling around
the arms and neck region saw Loretta suffer a serious asthma
attack and had to be rescued from the water by the event
staff. "It really scared me because I couldn't breathe,"
Harrop said this week in an article published in The Daily Telegraph. "I've only just started training again this
week. My throat's still a bit funny." Scary stuff!!! But
good news that Loretta is all okay and back in training
now.
The Australian Women's team
to contest the World
Championships in Maderia, Spain have been cut in half with
no replacements to be named, which will see Australia send
it's smallest team to the Worlds for some time. I should
bloody well hope Hackie would be an automatic selection had
it not been for her bike crash resulting in surgery!!! ...
??? Anyway...
Injury has dealt it's often cruel hand to reigning World Champion Emma
Snowsill - her
stress fracture of the femur is on the way to recovery, but
her lay-off time due to the injury will see her fitness not
peak in time for the big one. A disappointed Snowsill sent a
letter to the ITU informing them of her regretful decision,
in part saying:
"I have been nursing a mild stress fracture injury to my
right femur and whilst it has responded well to treatment
and rest, I have not been able to bike or run train
sufficiently to compete at this level.
In consultation with
my medical adviser, we have only just made the final
decision and whereas the prognosis is excellent, I now have
insufficient time to be 100 per cent race fit before Worlds.
I hold my ITU World
Champion title in the highest esteem and I am extremely
disappointed not to be able to bring 'back to back' titles
down to Australia."
Emma Carney
has been undergoing
a big injury rehabilitation program which won't see her fit
in time for the Worlds.
Michellie
Jones who recently
won the Californian Half Ironman race - that's right, I was
surprised when I read it, but MJ is now tackling the bigger
distances - and I guess the mountains of distance work she
has been putting in see's her on a different page to that of
the Olympic distance events. Or I could be controversial and
say it's a follow on effect to her non-selection in the team
for Athens, but that would purely be speculation. Although I guess it's right to say that
perhaps MJ has moved to another stage in her career -- very
sucessfully it seems, so a hearty Congrats to her -- but
it's definately at a loss, if indeed it does happen, that
she will not race over the distance again, to lose her from
the Olympic distance scene, where she has been so sucessful
and such a great advertisement and spokesperson for the
sport, it's a big loss, for sure, but thankfully she's still
in the sport!!!.
One athlete's
decision which is based entirely on the view of Olympic
representation is that of 2004 Australian Champion Liz
Blatchford. In her
last race as an Australian a few months ago, Liz won
Mooloolaba, making that her first senior Australian title,
before it was public revealed that she would pursue the rest
of her career under the Union Jack.
'Blatch' is set to become a 'Brit'.
She will compete for Great Britian and join a host of
ex-Aussies like Michelle Dillon, Andrew Johns and Leanda
Cave.
"I feel I have a better chance of making Commonwealth Games
and Olympic teams for Great Britain next time around"
Blatchford said after winning the Aussie title a few months
back.
It's such a shame, a
young talented star like Liz now set to persue glory
elsewhere. :-(
Another one bites the dust.
There has also been a few changes to the Men's Worlds team with one of the changes being the
fact Peter Robertson won't be racing, wanting to focus all
his energies on Athens.
There's more on
that, plus those who'll be replacements for the men's team -
Click here
to read the TA story.
LOOKING FOR THE
LATEST ON OLYMPIC SELECTION RACES?
Please see the dedicated
section to all the happenings and news surrounding selection
for the 2004 Olympic team, including race reviews, articles
with a previews to come - click here
HACKETT POWERS TO
THE PODIUM, SEEAR SIZZLES -
BRING ON THE SCINTILLATING SELECTION SHOWDOWN
Nicole Hackett, and
I mean this in the best way possible, has surprised even
herself after finishing third at the Australian Sprint
Championships raced last Sunday (18/1) at Geelong.
The 24-year-old was
battling it out for much of the race with defending
Accenture series Champion and World number 1 Barb Lindquist
before being out gunned by the popular American as well an
exciting young star, who achieved 2nd place at the Junior
World Championships, 19-year-old Maxine Seear - who won the
Sprint crown as the first Australian finisher, crossing the
line in second place.
In the
Central Coast Extra
on Monday
(unfortunately I can't find the
article right now), Hackett was quoted as being "estatic"
with a place on the podium and to paraphrase a little bit
feels that on the back on this performance she'll have some
more confidence heading into the second and final Olympic
selection race in Perth on February 2. Very excellent
news!
From memory, there was also a small piece in the article in
relation to that Nic would reassessing the future plans
(Worlds, Commonwealth Games Melbourne) after the coming
races have been run and won - so to speak - in Perth.
Fortunately, I have
just found another great article, written by Nicole Jeffery
(I've always been a fan of her swimming-related articles,
and she doesn't disappoint here at all -
link to full story below - nice
article!) which was in The Australian on Monday with some insightful quotes from
Nicole:
"It's made me
more nervous about Perth," Hackett said, before going to
retrieve baby Joel from her mother.
"It feels like I
have a decent shot at it. I always thought I would have a
good chance and I put myself up with the others today."
"I gave it
everything but I could see (Maxine) marching me down - she's
unbelievable that girl," Hackett said.
...
"It hasn't been
one of my main aims and I want to take the same (nothing to
lose) approach to the next race," Seear said.
...
I'm super-excited to
be going to Perth next week and the fact I'm going be there
(on the otherside of the freakin' country! :)) to see not
only such an anticipated Women's race but the fact the Men's
is just as action packed, the awesome and exciting World
Champions and out-of-this-world Aussie junior athletes who
have shot to the top since the Worlds in NZ late last year
... I could just go on and ON - I'm pumped! :)
But of course, could Nicole Hackett be having a much more
successful return to racing?!
Ok, so you're probably going "ahh...1st at Perth?!" at your
computer screen right *now*, true true, but as cheesy as
this might sound, as much as I might have hoped, way back
when Nicole confirmed after the birth of her baby she would
still aim to qualify for the Olympics, there were maybe a
few uncertainties over if it would be physically possible -
a pretty short time to get back in shape - but! 9mths and a
baby boy later! :) - , but the fact she has not only back
racing, but just 13 weeks later back so well - so SOON! - is
truely an awesome, awesome effort, I've run out of words to
describe it!
What an inspiring athlete who is going to give it her
absolute all striving for her second Olympics - Athens
2004.
Related
info:
'Hackett still in Athens
frame' - The
Australian / foxsports.com.au
'ROBERTSON, SEEAR CROWNED NATIONAL TRIATHLON
SPRINT CHAMPIONS IN GEELONG' -triathlon.org.au
TV TIMES
-
Race Highlights
This Sunday 25th January,
Channel 10, 3 - 5pm
Check local
guides
'MUM AIMS TO PROVE
SHE CAN STILL HACK IT'
- THE SUN
HERALD
Click here
to view the articles titled 'Mum aims to prove she can still
hack it' which was published in The Sun-Herald on Sunday
January 18, 2003.
SEVENTH HEAVEN IN ST
KILDA
Hackett
first-time-finishing since racing return
Nicole Hackett last
weekend finished a promising seventh, in just her second
race since the birth of her son Joel, in round two of the
Accenture Triathlon Series, the 'Enduro' format held in St.
Kilda, Victoria - a race which also saw Queenslander Rina
Hill record a memorable race win, after years in relative
obscurity after hitting the one of highs of triathlon - a
World Championship won in 1998 over the long-distance
format.
Despite a
considerable amount of lost time after heading the wrong way
on the swim course, Nicole was also with the main group of
leaders on the bike and must have had a solid run to record
her seventh-placing for 3.5k swim / 10k cycle / 2.5k run,
twice through.
Sorry I haven't got
much of a wrap of the events, but thankfully an article
appeared in the local Sun Weekly newspaper yesterday with the title
'Mum's the
Word' - the journo's
obviously love that headline! :) Anyway, it's a good little
article, so despite my concerns about headline choice! :) I
recommend it!
Tomorrow (Sunday
17/1) round 3 of the Accenture Triathlon Series will hit
Geelong where they are sure to get a healthy crowd, as
always, for what are also the Australian Sprint
Championships. Not sure if Nicole is competing, time will
tell!
The highlights of
both the Women's and Men's events from Rd 2-St. Kilda will
be broadcasted tomorrow on Network 10 from 3 - 5pm - be sure
to tune in to get your Tri-fix! :)
Related
info:
'ATKINSON AND HILL TAKE OUT ACCENTURE, SERIES
ROUND TWO IN ST. KILDA' - triathlon.org.au
* For full race results see triathlon.org.au
'HACKETT: I'M HAVING
A BABY'
- THE CENTRAL COAST
EXTRA /THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
Click here to view the articles titled
'Hackett: I'm having a baby' which was published in the
Central Coast Extra section of the Daily Telegraph on
Thursday April 24, 2003.
See also 'ONE OF AUSTRALIA’S
FINEST TRIATHLETES TAKES TIME OUT FOR FAMILY'
'A STARR IS BORN' -
THE CENTRAL COAST EXTRA /THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
Click here to view the articles titled 'A Starr
is born' which was published in the Central Coast Extra
section of the Daily Telegraph on Monday March 31,
2003.
'HACKETT'S MARATHON
FIGHT WITH ASTHMA' - THE CENTRAL COAST EXTRA /THE DAILY
TELEGRAPH
Click here to view the articles titled
'Hackett's marathon fight with asthma' which was published
in the Central Coast Extra section of the Daily Telegraph on
March 26, 2003.
LINDQUIST -
UNSTOPPABLE
Barb Lindquist today
took out Rd 2 of the series in style with an unstoppable,
powerhouse performance. She looked very relaxed and
comfortable throughout the entire race, a big Congrats!
:)
Nicole Hackett was second, with the other half of what I
like to call 'the
teriffic two' ;)
Loretta Harrop in third. Mirinda Carfrae also had a
fantastic result, finishing fourth.
Today it was the
Enduro format - 375m swim, 10km bike and a 2.5km run twice
through, no break in between.
It begun like many
race have before it ;) the trio of Lindquist, Harrop and
Hackett once again showing their dominance in the swim leg,
so then it was onwards to the bike where there was quickly a
break away which included 'the trio' ;) and the second pack
not far behind which included the likes of Michellie Jones.
Pip Taylor and Liz Blatchford were also never far from the
front.
This was until Barb
put the foot down! :-)
She broke away and
it seemed like before you knew it she was off,off and away!
;) As a result she had a handy lead going into the 2nd swim
... but who was hot on her heels? oh yes, Aussie's own
little 'triathlon fishy's' ;) Hackett & Harrop
:-).
Lindquist's lead
looked to grow all throughout the second stage of the race
but in fact, and to their credit, it was consistantly kept
at around 30 secs. (so the announcer told us :)) by the
teriffic two
who were going it
alone on the bike in a bid to bridge the gap to
Lindquist.
Michellie Jones
retired from the race, a victim of jet-lag after only
arriving back in Oz on Wednesday.
Young star Mirinda
Carfrae put in an inspiring performance as she made a move
towards Nic and Loretta as the final stages of the run
progressed and by the last lap she was hot on the heels of
Hackett as the passed transition with Harrop appering to
slowly but surely move ahead, trying to gap the other girls
perhaps.
So it was great to
see as Carfrae, Hackett and Harrop made their way down the
chute, moments after Lindquist took the race - in style! ;)
- That in fact it was Hackett putting on a sprint-finish of
sorts as she surged ahead, comfortably taking second - she
slowed to a walk as she crossed the finish line when after a
look behind her shoulder confirmed she wasn't going to be
challenged - maybe a sign of how much she feelin' it, she
later admitted during the mini-interview which took place
when the presentations were being made she was close to
pulling out on the run leg but "gusted it out" :). I noticed
the grimace one her face during the 1st run leg showed that
maybe she wasn't feeling 100% comfortable... I'd imagine
maybe much the same feelings during the second half of the
race perhaps...? - Tops effort even more then by Hacky! Good
on ya! :D.
Harrop also had another great race :)
Afterwards Hackett
& Harrop as well as others happily posed for pics and
signed some
autographs for the
fans :).
Related
news:
Full results - triathlon.org.au
Latest reports -
foxsports.news.com.au
Want to share
some pics or a story? Please contact
me :D! (My pics
coming ASAP)
RD 2 - Tri-time to hit Sydney
This Sunday the
second round of the 2003 Accenture Triathlon Series hits
Sydney. Keep checking back here or on the Triathlon Australia website for all the latest.
I'll be heading down this weekend to catch all the action
live, so in the coming weeks there'll also be some photos as
well as my round-up of events...
TRIATHLON ON TV
(Sunday, Ch 10)
Rd 1 highlights from the Accenture Series were shown
yesterday - Congrats to Channel 10, they've done a bit of
're-designing' of the way they present it all -- very
nice!
'TRIATHLON AND MULTI
SPORT MAGAZINE'
The latest edition is
out now, which amongst other things includes a feature on
Michellie Jones -look out for MJ on the cover.
RD 1
MICHELLIE
JONES SHOWS TRAINING REGIME PAYS OFF; HACKETT THIRD
Has Michellie Jones' new
training regime (as talked about in detail here in the
Triathlon Australia media release from Friday) which
includes a specialist swim coach and a move to the Gold
Coast has today helped her take out 1st place in round 1 of
the 2003 Accenture Triathlon Series?.
Michellie's finishing time was
31mins59secs (I presume thats for the second race) with Barb
Lindquist 3 seconds behind, and Nicole Hackett third, 11
seconds behind.
Couldn't say 'Yes' for sure,
but seeing as she was up with the leaders in the swim, which
lead to her being in a handy position for the bike leading
onto her strong leg of the run, there are signs pointing
that it could well be the case! :-) If so, that's really
good news for Michellie and good on her! :-)
Well there you go, I've just
found the AAP article on
today's racing (probably better to read that and as it
was written by someone who was there...! ;-)) it
kinda eludes to Michellie's new training as well!. The
article also has a comments from Emma Carney, who after a
fall in the bike leg of the first of two 'Eliminator' format
races, has a suspected broken hand.
Tomorrow's papers and
hopefully the Triathlon Australia site should have a full
results list pretty soon.
In other
news:
The Jan. 2003 edition of
'Triathlon and Multi Sport
Magazine' is out now with a
World Champs wrap-up and Accenture Series Offical
progam.
'HACKETT'S SECRET COFFS
WEDDING' and 'HACKETT LOOKS FORWARD TO RACE' - 'THE CENTRAL
COAST EXPRESS ADVOCATE'
Click
here
to view the articles titled 'Hackett's Secret Coffs Wedding'
and 'Hackett looks forward to race' which was published in
the Central Coast Express Advocate on Wednesday January 8,
2003 - Congratulations to Nicole and Keiran Barry on their
marriage :-) .
'ONE OF THE BOYS' - 'CENTRAL
COAST EXTRA' - THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
Click
here
to view an article titled 'One of the boys' which was
published in the Daily Telegraph's Central Coast Extra on
Wednesday October 23, 2002 - it's about Nicole's lead up to
the world champs - too true Nic, it all seems to be coming
along nicely - yay! :) :D
'HACKETT'S BOOST FOR WORLD
TITLE' - 'CENTRAL COAST EXTRA' - THE DAILY
TELEGRAPH
Click
here
to view an article titled 'Hackett's boost for world title'
which was published in the Daily Telegraph's Central Coast
Extra on Monday October 7th, 2002
'EX-WORLD CHAMP THINKS COAST
IS ATHLETES DREAM' - 'CENTRAL COAST EXTRA' - THE DAILY
TELEGRAPH
Click
here
to view an article titled 'Ex-World Champ thinks Coast is
athletes dream' which was published in the Daily Telegraph's
Central Coast Extra on Saturday October 5th, 2002
'HACKETT CRUCIAL TO HOPES' -
'CENTRAL COAST EXTRA' - THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
Click
here
to view an article titled 'Hackett crucial to hopes' which
was published in the Daily Telegraph's Central Coast Extra
on Monday September 30th, 2002
2002 COMMONWEALTH GAMES -
MANCHESTER
Looking for info regarding the 2002 Commonwealth
Games? Visit the 'sub-site' by clicking below
[Click
here]
HACKETT A HEADLINER FOR 'TEAM
ESTROGEN' AT THE LIFE TIME FITNESS TRIATHLON
Tonight (AEST) Nicole Hackett will join US
athletes Barb Lindquist, Joanna Zeiger and Sheila Taormina
as the headlining athletes on 'Team Estrogen', which also
have Aussie Michellie Jones in the ranks, who will have a 7-
8 minute start ahead of 'Team Testosterone' in the Life Time
Fitness 'Battle of the Sexes' triathlon which will attempt
to see the first ever sprint finish between male and female
pro. triathletes - The race winner will recieve USD $50,000.
Aussie Peter 'Robbo' Robertson is part of Team
Testosterone and said to the Daily Telegraph "If they
[female competitors] get it right it will be very, very
close. If it's a sprint finish it will be even better."
The 1200m swim, 30k cycle and 8k run race will
wrap up Hackett and Jones' Comm Games preparation. The
women's Commonwealth Games race will be run on the very
'Aussie-friendly' time of 5pm on Monday August 5th.
Big Commonwealth Games update in the very near future - keep
checkin' back!
''Cash
vs Pride'' - The Daily Telegraph, Sat. July 20 2002
For more info go to the
'Battle of the Sexes' page on the
official website.
*
* See
this story which was published on the
Triathlon Australia website to read about the war of words
between the ITU and USAT.
'CASH LURE FOR BATTLE OF THE
SEXES' - THE AUSTRALIAN
A "BATTLE of the sexes" race in the US, offering
record prizemoney, will serve as the final lead-up race for
Australia's Commonwealth Games triathletes before they
arrive in Manchester later this month.
[More]
'LATE TO FIRST' - THE CENTRAL
COAST EXPRESS ADVOCATE
Click
here
to view an article titled 'Late to first' which was
published in The Central Coast Express Adovocate July 3,
2002. The article is a wrap on the 2002 Bay to Breakers fun
run.
***
Nicole was the 20th person (as forementioned, 1st
lady) across the line in a record 860 field - good stuff! :)
***
Things that make ya go 'hmmm'
(yes, i know - very
pathetic!)
*Nicole has a younger brother [thats not
the hmm bit! ;)] ... Stephen Hackett was 8th across the line
in 37.48 *shrugs*
* Kieren Barry was 39th across the line in 41.36
- the same Kieren Barry who coaches Nicole, perhaps? *shrugs
once more ;)*
NICOLE MAKES IT BACK TO
BACK IN THE BAY TO BREAKERS FUN RUN
Nicole Hackett has, for the second year in a row,
been the first women across the line and therefore won the
Women's division of the Bay to Breakers fun run in a time of
39 minutes and 48 seconds - not all that far behind the top
male runners, nearly 2 minutes ahead of 2nd placed Karen
Ryan(41.35) of Wollongong and nearly 3 minutes ahead of 3rd
placed women's division runner, Alison Bowmaker (42.30).
The race attracted fantastic numbers with a field of over
800 competitors.
In the presentation Nicole thanked the Terrigal Trotters for
organising the race, saying it was a "great hit out" as well
as congratulating all those who took part in the run saying
she liked running with "the local crew".
The announcer also said that Nicole fired the
starters gun in Gosford ... how 'bout that! starts the race
and wins it!
Be sure to visit the site later in the week, I will post
stories from the Express Advocate and Nicole's official
time, along with the remainder of the top three women.
Congratulations Nicole!!
[Note: The above news item was first written
on June 30 edited on July 3 - when times became available to
me]
'CHANCE FOR BIG BREAK IN
ATHLETICS' - THE CENTRAL COAST EXPRESS ADVOCATE
Click
here
to view an article titled 'Chance for big break in
athletics' which was published in the Central Coast Express
Advocate on Friday June 14, 2002
LORETTA WINS GAMAGORI WITH
POWERFUL RUN DISPLAY
Aussie Loretta Harrop blitzed the field on the
run to set up another World Cup win today in Japan with the
final margin to second place being a big 40-seconds which
gave Loretta the opportunity to 'high five' the crowd on her
way down the finishing chute.
Nicole also had a great race, making up a big
margin on the run to come from 5th place on the bike to
power into 2nd! With the Bay to Breakers coming up
relatively soon, it will give Nicole another chance to
improve/gain more confidence on what by the sounds of things
is already an impressive run! - Once considered a weakness
by some may now now, by today's display, be a weapon in the
very near future! :)
After the first lap of the swim Harrop and
Hackett were placed back in around about 8th but by the end
of the swim were up with the leading pack from the water.
From what I read of the live feed the main group
on the bike which included Harrop who was a leader up front,
Lindquist, Taormina possibly Reback and Hackett was
there too. They built up a lead which extended to many
minutes, with the likes of Mel Ashton and Pip Taylor leading
the way for the chase pack.
It was then on to the run where Harrop dominated
while Nicole rose through the field over the 3 lap course -
which is described as flat on the ITU website - passing
athletes such as Barb Lindquist, who ran very well during
the Australian summer and Sheila Taormina.
The above report is based on the 'live feed' on
the ITU
website, so I'd suggest you either check out the ITU
website or a sports site/ newspaper for the wrap from
someone in person ;) we'll see if I was even close lol :)
Nicole's
splits
|
Swim
|
18:41 (5th fastest)
|
|
Bike
|
1:03:24 (Fastest 40k bike leg time)
|
|
Run
|
36:30 (2nd fastest)
|
|
Final
|
1hr 58 min 35 sec (2nd place)
|
'HACKETT TO DEFEND FUN
RUN CROWN' - THE CENTRAL COAST EXPRESS ADVOCATE
Click
here
to view an article titled 'Hackett to defend fun run crown'
which was published in the Central Coast Express Advocate on
Friday June 7, 2002
'BARB LINDQUIST WINS IN ISHIGAKI AND RETAINS
HER WORLD #1 TITLE'
- MAY 19,
2002, - triathlon.org
1st - Barb Lindquist -1:56:53
2nd - Loretta Harrop - 1:57:29
3rd - Nicole Hackett - 1:58:29
- Follow other links on the site for video
highlights!
Pre-race press
release
WORLD'S BEST TRIATHLETES HEAD TO ITU
ISHIGAKI WORLD CUP '-
JAPAN, MAY 19, 2002 - TRIATHLON.ORG
'ELITE SPORTS STARS HONOURED'
- THE CENTRAL COAST EXPRESS ADVOCATE
Click
here
to view an article titled 'Elite sports stars honoured'
which was published in the Central Coast Express Advocate on
Friday May 10, 2002
***
Congratulations Nicole on being awarded
Mingara's senior sports person of the year!
NEW ERA FOR TRIATHLON
AUSTRALIA ONLINE
As the title may suggest Triathlon Australia has
launched a new website made by the people at Accenture.
It looks great and I strongly suggest you
check
it out for yourselves.
'CYCLISTS AT 'BRAKING'
POINT' - THE CENTRAL COAST EXPRESS ADVOCATE
Click
here
to view an article titled 'Cyclists at 'braking' point'
which was published in the Central Coast Express Advocate on
Wednesday May 1, 2002
2002 AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS:
HARROP'S FINAL AUSSIE SEASON TRIUMPH DENIES HACKETT HISTORY
Loretta Harrop is the 2002 Australian triathlon
champion after winning an emotion charged race in
Mooloolaba, Queensland, yesterday.
Throughout the later half of the Australian
triathlon season, the words 'Loretta Harrop' and 'emotion'
have played a strong part in the races, and it was no
exception during a race which was a favourite of her late
brother, Luke.
The familar pairing of Hackett and Harrop were
again dominant from the starters gun with the Courier Mail
describing it as a case of "...The top two placings were
a foregone conclusion 10 minutes into the race..." . The
'terrific two' continued to work together throughout the
bike leg and it would be a race for first place between the
two as Harrop said after the race "We knew once we had a
three-minute lead it would come down to between us . . .
Nicole and I work well together."
Harrop made her break away from Hackett early in
the 10-k run leg with Nicole gallantly trying to reduce the
gap. With her lead Harrop could afford to take it slow
towards the end of the race, as she walked down the
finishing chute, high-fiving spectators as well as family
and friends, before recording victory with a time of
2:05:24, Nicole was second in 2:05:47 with Melissa Ashton,
after a solid Accenture series, taking third place in
2:09:14 - proving she is definately one to watch.
Nicole Hackett was denied a piece of history,
having had won yesterday she would have been only the second
person to win three-straight Australian championships. In
saying that, a 1st in 2000 and 2001 followed up by a 2nd in
2002 is definately something to be proud of!
"I can feel the support from everyone. I want to
say thank you to everyone and it's hard to do that one by
one, so by winning I hope I can say thank you," Harrop said.
Russell Harrop presented the first Luke Harrop
Memorial Bursary to Jennifer Erskine and Paul Matthews, the
winners of the U-23 category, who both received $1000.
Points score will be calculated over Moloolaba, Noosa and an
event set down for 2003, the Luke Harrop Memorial
Triathlon,with a $2,500 grant being awarded to the highest
point scorers.
Articles
Harrop leads Hackett in emotional
tribute - The Courier Mail (QLD)
Harrop takes out
Mooloolaba triathlon - AAP
ITU Mooloolaba International: Harrop again,
Marceau claims first title since 2000 Worlds - ITU
Website
MOOLOOLABA TRIATHLON TO INCLUDE TOUGH BIKE LEG
ABC News
Elite athletes can expect a tough bike leg at the
Mooloolaba Triathlon on Queensland's Sunshine Coast this
weekend.
[More]
HACKETT VIRUS FEARS
AAP reports that "Hackett fears she is catching a
virus and she said she felt very low on energy as she faded
to fourth."
This is not good news, especially with the
Australian Championships being raced this weekend, the 21st
of April.
More info. to be added when/if available.
Article
Robertson wins
triathlon series opener - AAP
HARROP WINS WITH NICOLE
FINISHING FOURTH IN GEELONG ITU WORLD CUP
Aussie Loretta Harrop has won the opening racing
of the ITU World Cup series today in Geelong in a time of 2
hours and 1.35 minutes.
American's Barb Lindquist (2:02:09) and Siri
Lindley (2:03:05) were second and third, respectively with
Nicole finishing fourth in 2 hours and 3.41 minutes.
Michellie Jones (AUS), Carol Montgomery (CAN),
Leanda Cave (GBR), Melissa Ashton (AUS), Kiyomi Niwata (JPN)
and Heather Evans (NZL) round out the Top 10 | Full results
here. (Adobe Acrobat
required)
Unknown to me, the ITU site had a live update and
now video highlights from the race available - good stuff!
:) Lets hope the same can possibly be done for other races
throughout the season.
There is also a nice pre-race interview with
Michellie Jones and Siri Lindley - all available on the
ITU
Website.
Congratulations goes to Loretta Harrop on yet
another great display.
Nicole's
splits
|
Swim
|
18:43.4 (3rd fastest)
|
|
Bike
|
1:05.53.5 (2nd fastest)
|
|
Run
|
37:50.1 (8th fastest)
|
|
Final
|
2h 3m 41s (4th place)
|
Articles:
Race hurt helps Harrop - The Australian
'NO TIME FOR FOCUSED
HACKETT TO FEEL TIRED' - THE SUN WEEKLY
Click
here
to view an article titled 'No time for focused Hackett to
feel tired' which was published in the Sun Weekly on
Thursday 11th April 2002
BURSARY ESTABLISHED IN MEMORY
OF LUKE HARROP
ABC News
A memorial bursary has been established in memory
of Australian triathlete Luke Harrop, who was killed in a
training accident earlier this year.
[More]
NICOLE TO COMPETE IN THE ITU
WORLD CUP - GEELONG
For all the info, visit the info page on the ITU
page - click
here.
SEA-FM's 'GOOD
SPORTS'
Sea-fm, a Central Coast radio station has a
Saturday morning sports program that starts at 8am.
Nicole Hackett was going to be interviewed on the
6th, but for whatever reasons that didn't happen.
Perhaps Sea-fm will have the
interview this weekend, so if you can listen in! :)
If not, if they end up having an interview, I'll
tape it and type a transcript for those who couldn't listen
to it.
2002 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
TEAM
Women's team:
Loretta Harrop, Nicole Hackett, Michellie Jones,
Pip Taylor, with the final two places to be annouced on
August 5.
Men's team:
Miles Stewart, Courtney Atkinson, Peter
Robertson, Chris McCormack,Chris Hill, with the final place
to also be annouced on August 5.
THE NICOLE HACKETT SPORTS
AWARD
In association with
Muffin Break,
proud major sponsors of Nicole Hackett
***FROM MUFFIN BREAK WEBSITE***
Muffin Break and World Champion triathlete,
Nicole Hackett, are joining forces in a search for
Australia’s undiscovered sporting talent.
“Following your sporting dreams can be very
expensive. Without the support of Muffin Break, New Balance
and my other sponsors I would not have been able to train
and race fulltime for the past four years,” says Nicole.
“Without their support I would never have competed in the
Olympics or been World Champion.
Nominations are now being accepted at Muffin
Break shops around Australia for the Nicole Hackett Sports
Award, with the inaugural presentation to take place in
September.
For the full story, visit
here.
Congratulations to Nicole and Muffin Break on
such a worthwhile award.
NICOLE WINS IN DUBBO
Last weekend (9th March) Nicole raced in the
Annual Dubbo Triathlon and came first.
Congratulations Nicole!
A big thankyou goes out to Nicole's
mum,Christine, who informed me of 'The Nicole Hackett Sports
Award' and the win in Dubbo.
It is greatly appreciated!
DEVONPORT INTERNATIONAL
TRIATHLON
A strong International contingent will race at
the Devonport Triathlon, this Sunday the 17th of March, with
perhaps the lure of $50,000 in prize money and ITU points
helping along the way!
American and defending Davonport champion Barb
Lindquist will be joined by fellow country-woman Siri
Lindley, who is favoured to peform well in the race. Other
Internationals include Great Britain's Leanda Cave, Canadian
Olympian Sharon Donnelly and Laura Reback from the United
States all of whom are genuine threats to stop the Aussie
domination of this event. Saturday's The Daily Telegraph
reports that Emma Carney and Mel Ashton look like
the only Australians capable of stopping an International
clean sweep.
In the Mens race, defending champion Australian
Chris Hill also faces stiff competition from the
Internationals. Britain's Andrew Johns, the Czech Republic's
Martin Krnavek and Frenchman Olivier Marceau are the stand
outs, with Swiss athletes Dominik Rechsteiner, Andreas
Gruetter and Germany's Torsten Abel have joined a very
strong men's field.
Iam un able to find a start list but the racing
begins at 1pm.
AUSSIE KIDS TRYATHLON -
CENTRAL COAST
The picture on the main page is from the photo
gallery of the TRYathlon site, more photos from the Central
Coast leg can be found
here.
SPECIAL GUESTS AT CEREMONY
Central Coast Express Advocate
- Friday March 1, 2002
Former world champions Nicole Hackett and Brad
Bevan will be special guests when a national junior
triathlon series hits the Central Coast on Sunday.
The TRYathlon series is for children aged between
7 and 13 years and is on at Terilbah Park, The Entrance.
Hackett, of Toowoon Bay, and Bevan will present
medallions to the winners.
Places are still available for Sunday.
Competitors must bring a bike, helmet, costume and runners.
Racing starts at 9am with registrations taken
betwen 6am and 7am.
Inquiries: 1800 989 999
=*=
Side note: All competitors will recieve a
medallion - not just 1st , 2nd and 3rd which might have been
interpreted by reading the above article - as the focus of
the day is having fun and 'giving it a go'
NEW SECTION - FOR THE
FANS
Click here to go
straight to it - link should be all all pages A.S.A.P
TRIATHLON AND MULTISPORT MAGAZINE
Latest edition now on sale with a tribute to Luke
Harrop as well as reviews on rounds 2 and 3 of the Accenture
Series, a feature article on Pip Taylor and much more.
ACCENTURE SERIES RD 4, CANBERRA
Click
here
for all the latest information on the Rd 4, Commonwealth
Games selection race.
'MAKE OR BRAKE' - EXPRESS ADVOCATE
Click
here
to view an article titled 'Make or Brake' which was
published in the Express Advocate on Friday 15th February
2002
2002 SANITARIUM -
WEET-BIX KIDS TRYATHLON SERIES
The Central Coast leg of the innovative TRYathlon
race for kids aged 7-13 to be held at The Entrance on March
the 3rd will be attended by local-gal Nicole Hackett where
she will present the competitors with prizes.
For more information on the event, visit their
website
2002 COMMONWEALTH GAMES SELECTION RACES
I have set up a 'sub site' where you can follow
all the action regarding the races.
Click
here
to view it.
LINDQUIST AND ATKINSON DO IT AGAIN AT THE
NATIONAL SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIPS
some info from
news.com.au
U.S.A's Barb Linquist and Aussie Courtney
Atkinson today continued their dominance of the Accenture
series and are the winners of the 2002 Australian National
Sprint Championships.
Nicole Hackett finished second to Lindquist with Michellie
Jones third. As the first Australian over the line, the
Sprint title goes to Nicole, which I was unaware of -
Congrats. Nicole!.
Loretta Harrop who was a last minute inclusion in the race,
finished a gallant 16th. Fellow competitors Nicole Hackett
and Melissa Ashton hugged Loretta as she crossed the line.
Michellie Jones also expressed her admiration "Loretta is a
great athlete, no doubt about it - she's doing something her
brother loved to do and she loves to do -I admire her so
much for coming out here and getting back into it," she
said.
In accepting the inaugural Luke Harrop memorial trophy,
Atkinson said "I'm very, very, very proud to have won this -
I'm so glad it's one of Luke's group and it's a great
tribute to him."
Full results to come A.S.A.P.
news.com.au -
Harrop returns to triathlon
Daily Telegraph -
Harrop's courage applauded
Article from Sunday morning - Sportal -
Triathlon resumes
This is round 3, not round 5 as I orginally
stated, my apologies
TRIATHLON TROPHY TO HONOUR LUKE HARROP
AAP article
The trophy presented to the winner of Sunday's
men's Accenture Triathlon series race will bear Luke
Harrop's name in memory of the young triathlete who died
after a training accident earlier this year.
Harrop's flatmate Chris Hill, the reigning men's world
champion, is a confirmed starter in a field of about 50 men
after he withdrew from the last round, held the day after
Harrop's accident.
But Harrop's older sister, former world champion Loretta
Harrop, and his girlfriend, Emma Snowsill, who also withdrew
from last the round, are unlikely to compete this
weekend.
Triathlon Australia announced the winner of Sunday's race -
which doubles as the National Sprint Titles - would be
presented with the perpetual Luke Harrop Memorial
Trophy.
Harrop, 24, died on January 13, one day after he was hit by
a car while on a training ride on Queensland's Gold
Coast.
Triathlon Australia president David Burt said Harrop's
father, Russell, would present the inaugural trophy to the
winner after Sunday's race in St Kilda.
"Luke will never be forgotten, he was part of our triathlon
family, and a close close friend of many of our leading
athletes," Mr Burt said.
"But this trophy will honour Luke, his great talent, his
zest for life and his passion for his sport.
Sunday's women's race will start at 10.30am (AEDT), and the
men's will start at noon.
©AAP 2001
RD 3 - ACCENTURE TRIATHLON SERIES -
ACCENTURE NATIONAL SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIPS
with info from Triathlon
Australia
St Kilda will this Sunday play host to the
National Sprint Championships, in Rd 5 of the Accenture
Triathlon Series.
For some competitors, this is the last chance to lift
themselves into the top 3 of the 'eligibility rankings' of
the series. Those in the top 3 will then be in Triathlon
Australia's eligibility sqaud.
Following St. Kilda, the next two rounds being raced at
Olympic distance (1.5/40/10) and are the Commonwealth Games
selection races. Athletes who win either selection race and
are in Triathlon Australia's
'A',
'B
or
'Eligibility
Squad' automatically gain selection.
Defending sprint champion Bryce Quirk knows the importance
of this race "apart from the honour of the title, it is the
last chance to boost eligibility rankings for the Games
squad, ahead of the actual selection trials,"
"I currently sit 4th on the Accenture eligibility rankings
and I need to break into the top three, so I need to win or
place at St Kilda." he said.
A media conference will be held on Friday with many
champions, including Nicole, present. So no doubt the media
will snap the stories up for Saturday.
Elite competition gets underway at 10.30am for women and
Noon for men, with all competitors racing over the Sprint
distance 750m swim, 20km cycle and 5km run course.
Thirty women contest their Accenture National Sprint title
at 10.30am with series leader American Barb Lindquist out to
continue her domination of the Aussies, including Olympic
silver medallist Michellie Jones and Nikki Hackett.
Goodluck, Nik.
HACKETT MOURNS FELLOW TRIATHLETE
suntoday.com.au
Nicole Hackett finished second in an
emotion-charged second round of the rich Accenture Triathlon
Series on the Gold Coast on Sunday.
Competitors were grief stricken following news of the death
of triathlete Luke Harrop, 24, after an apparent hit-and-run
incident, on Saturday morning.
You can
read the entire article at
suntoday.com.au
TRIATHLON TRADGEDY
Triathlon Australia media
release
Leading Australian triathlete Luke Harrop died
today at noon, the result of a tragic hit and run accident
in an early morning training ride on the Gold Coast
yesterday (January 12).
Twenty four year old Harrop was one of two riders
hit by a young female driver of a stolen Ford Laser in the
suburb of Robina. Harrop was thrown from the car and
sustained massive head injuries. He was rushed to Gold Coast
Hospital in a critical condition and was put on a life
support system.
He died at noon with his family and close friends
at his bedside.
It was at the exact time that his grief stricken
triathlon mates honoured their buddy with a peloton of
honour on the Gold Coast race course, just prior to their
round two race of the Accenture Triathlon Series at Surfers
Paradise.
The tragedy occurred at 6.20am on Saturday when
Harrop, Brisbane’s 26 year old Craig O’Connell, and young
Lincoln Stewart were riding in a breakaway pack of three,
followed by a group of 20 triathletes in pursuit. It was a
final training run before today’s Accenture Series race.
The stolen car hit Harrop and O’Connell at speed.
Harrop took the brunt of the impact while O’Connell was
dragged on the car bonnet for 20 metres before rolling off
the vehicle. He has two broken vertebrae in his back.
Stewart, the third member of the breakaway pack,
dropped off the leaders just seconds before the impact and
avoided the crash. All athletes are members of national
coach Col Stewart’s Gold Coast training squad.
The driver fled from the scene and abandoned the
vehicle at a fruit market in Carrara. Squads of Gold Coast
police have been searching for the driver and have appealed
to her to report to police.
National Coach Stewart said Harrop was a world
class athlete. "Luke was highly talented and very very
smart. I train the world’s leading triathletes and he was
right up there in the very top echelon," said a devastated
Col Stewart, whose younger son (Lincoln) was riding with the
front pack.
"He was a live wire, happy, spritely, the life of
the party. It is an unbelievable tragedy," said Stewart.
A former Australian junior team member, David
Burt, President of TA, said Harrop was a most promising
talent. Last year he took 2nd overall in the 2001 Triathlon
Australia National Series and 3rd in the Australian Sprint
Championships.
"He was a definite contender for this year’s
Commonwealth and world championship team," said Burt.
"This was really going to be Luke’s year. He had
a tremendous passion for the sport and the triathlon family.
He was a great Aussie larrikin, he loved to party and was a
great motivator.
"He has many many friends in triathlon and
everyone is in terrible shock,"said Burt.
A professional athlete, Harrop was contracted to
the Accenture Triathlon Series and raced as seed no 10. His
last race was the opening round of the Accenture Triathlon
Series on December 23.
Luke Harrop was the brother of Australian
triathlon star Loretta Harrop - the 1999 world triathlon
champion, Goodwill Games champion and Sydney 2000 Olympian.
LINDQUIST LIGHTS IT UP AT MANLY
with info from Triathlon
Australia and Sportal
In picture postcard conditions at Manly, American
Barb Lindquist took out Rd 1 of the 2001 Accenture Triathlon
series on Manly Beach.
Nicole Hackett finished fourth and was
understandably downcast on missing a podium finish at Manly
for the first time in 2 years saying "I felt flat. I just
wasn't with the girls today,"
Lindquist showed why she was one of Nicole's pre
race 'dangers' as she completed the course in 1:04:55.
2nd and 3rd went to Aussies Michellie Jones
(1:05:23) and Mel Ashton (1:05:35) respectively.
Hackett finished the first swim leg with an 8
sec. lead but that was quickly chased down by Lindquist and
young Aussie Josie Loane.
Hackett and Loane were to later sprint it out for
fourth place - so close were the two that they both clocked
1:05:45, but Nik held out. It should be great to see!
(TV Times)
Rd 2 is to be raced at Surfers Paradise Jan. 13.
Go get 'em Nik.
National TV
Coverage: Network Ten - Sunday January 6 from 3-5pm
Triathlon Australia -
Results and photos
Triathlon Australia -
Media release on women's race
Sportal -
Lindquist, Atkinson dominate
ACCENTURE TRIATHLON SERIES RD 1
with info from Triathlon
Australia
The Accenture Triathlon Series will kick-off this
weekend with Rd 1 this Sunday the 23rd on Sydney's Manly
Beach.
Going into the series Nicole is the number 1
seeded female as a result of last years series win, with
Loretta Harrop and Michellie Jones 2nd and 3rd.
Barb Lindquist (USA #4) and Lisbeth Kristiensen
(DEN #9) are the only internationals in the top 10.
Going for a hat-trick of wins on the Manly
course, Hackett is wary of the tight cycling course, "On
paper it is a recipe for disaster. I think the cycle course
is extremely tough because the course is smaller and there
are more girls than in the past. This means there is a
possibility of more crashes if people are bunched up,"said
Hackett. "I guess the best spot to be is out front."
Nicole sighted Olympic teamates Harrop and Jones
as well as Barb Lindquist as the dangers "You can never
discount Michellie and Loretta, they are always up there,"
said Hackett. "But I think the real danger is Barb
Lindquist. She’ll be the fittest of anyone I know and has
trained right through from the Goodwill Games in September
through to the World Cup in Cancun in November."
Although the ex-Terrigal and Wamberal nipper does
admit her surf skills may give her an advantage "Knowing
where to head out and come in can make a big difference, and
the last two times we raced at Manly the surf was huge and I
won the swim."
With her recent record at Manly many may think
that it is a lucky beach, "People say that Manly is a good
race for me, but I don’t think it has anything to do with
Manly, I think it’s just the fact I love sprint racing and
when the gun goes that’s it – I’m out of there." says
Nicole.
Triathlon Australia -
Entry list for round 1
Triathlon Australia -
Media release on Hill and Hackett
ACCENTURE TRIATHLON SERIES
The Accenture Triathlon Series which replaces the
KIA F1 Series as the TA endorsed national series sees a new
dawning for Elite and Age group athletes alike.
Besides the $500 000 prize pool this series
boasts the only way to qualify for national selection
(Commonwealth Games and World Championships) off
places/times in the last two races. With a impressive list
of starters such as Nicole Hackett, Loretta Harrop and
Michellie Jones - all former world champions and Current
world holder Peter Robertson along with Chris Hill and Miles
Stewart - as well as a host of international stars - some
people in the media are even tipping it to be as tight as
Olympic selection, with only 3 females and 3 males
qualifying for the Commonwealth Games.
The first three rounds will be sprint distance
and the remaining two Olympic distance, with the venues
being Manly, Gold Coast, St. Kilda, Canberra and Geelong.
Ch 10 will host a total of 10 hours of coverage,
with sponsors such as New Balance and still on board.
St. Kilda will host the National Sprint
Championships on Sunday January 27 with the first round
being on December 23 in Manly - the count down is on for a
cracker series!
SMH -
Young to go helmet to helmet with elite
Triathlon Australia -
Media release
BACK IN THE SWING
Nicole Hackett has resumed training after a 3
week break.
Speaking to NBN News, Hackett revealed her plans
to attend local cycling clubs to re-gain lost confidence
after her fall at the 2001 World Triathlon Championships.
This begins preperation for the Australian
domestic season which begins on December 23rd.
Click here for Archived news
|
