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Nicole Hackett Shrine | A
page about Aussie Triathlete Nicole Hackett
The purpose of this section of
the site is to (try) and keep you up-to-date with all the
happenings regarding the 2002 Commonwealth Games selection
races.
Accenture Triathlon
Series
Rd 6 - C'wealth Games
selection race #2
31st March 2002 -
Geelong
Rd 4 - C'wealth Games
selection race #1
17th February 2002 -
Canberra, ACT
(Click here for all the news from the Canberra
race)
The 2002 Commonwealth
Games team
Female
Loretta Harrop
(QLD)
NICOLE HACKETT
(NSW)
MICHELLIE JONES
(NSW)
Reserve - Emma
Carney
Male
Miles Stewart
(QLD)
PETER ROBERTSON
(NSW)
CHRIS MCCORMACK
(NSW)
Reserve - Chris
Hill
I
had previously written that the second selection race was
the Devonport race, my apologies, it is in fact Rd 6 in
Geelong.
STORIES FROM LOCAL
PAPERS
'On Track' - The
Central Coast Express Adcovate, Wednesday April 3, 2002
 - The Central Coast Sun Weekly
'No rest for stars' -
The Central Coast Express Adovcate: Friday April 5 2002
STILL MORE POST RACE
STORIES
It's Whitfield, Hackett in Geelong -
slowtwitch.com
MORE POST RACE
STORIES
Triathlon.org has all the results and some more
post race stories ... click
here
"ANGRY ANT" NICOLE
In an article by News Ltd.'s Amanda Lulham,
it speaks of a rival describing Nicole as "an angry ant" out
at Geelong yesterday :) Read the article -
Super six to try for gold.
More articles:
SMH -
Mind games take Hackett off to Games
(01/04/02)
NICOLE HACKETT WINS GEELONG
AND COMMONWEALTH GAMES BERTH
Nicole Hackett has today won the seventh and
final round of the 2002 Accenture Triathlon Series in
Geelong and in the process confirmed, in style ;), her place
on the Australian team for the 2002 Commonwealth Games, to
be held in Manchester, England in July.
In a sprint finish to the line Nicole held off
fellow Aussie Loretta Harrop with a final time of 2 hours 3
minutes and 16 seconds - eight seconds clear (Harrop -
2:03:34). American sensation Barb Lindquist was third in
2:03:45 and won the 2002 Accenture series title, a feat
which she would have achieved with a top 10 result,
regardless.
As of a news peice published at 7pm, ABC reported
that Michellie Jones, who finished in 5th spot with a time
of 2:06:43, behind 4th placed American Siri Lindley
(2:05:16), would be confirmed by the Commonwealth Games
association later tonight (Sun, 31st March) to round out the
three person women's team.
In the mens race, after working for a 70-metre
lead on the run leg, Sydney's Peter Robertson was mowed down
by 2000 Olympic Gold Medallist Simon Whitfield in the final
500m metres to steal the race in 1:52.24. Kiwi Hamish Carter
was third.
Chris McCormack will join Miles Stewart (who
finished sixth today) and Robertson, despite finishing 21st.
Courtney Atkinson finished 14th today at Geelong
and will miss Commonwealth Games selection. Atkinson was the
Mens series winner after a countback due to a tie on points
with Stewart.
Geelong received a glowing report, with this
quote on the ITU website - "Officals and athletes alike
praised the course and the organisation, as well as the
beauty of the venue."
CONGRATULATIONS NICOLE.
BARB EYES ACCENTURE
TITLE ON EASTER SUNDAY, AS AUSSIES PLAY FOR COMMONWEALTH
GAMES SPOT
'PRE - RACE WOMENS STORY' -
TRIATHLON.ORG
American triathlete Barb Lindquist is poised to
become the first foreigner to snatch victory in an
Australian women's professional racing series, with the
winner of the five round Accenture Triathlon Series decided
at Geelong this Easter Sunday (March 31st).
Lindquist needs only to finish in the top ten on
Sunday to capture the inaugural Accenture Series and break
the long time Australian stranglehold on professional racing
titles. However, Lindquist will have a tough assignment with
her Australian rivals also racing for final selection for
the Commonwealth Games and World Championships.
While Loretta Harrop secured her Games spot last
round in Canberra; NSW's Nicole Hackett and Michellie Jones,
now look in the best shape on the National Points Table to
score the final two berths. Hackett sits most secure and a
top three spot on Sunday will book her seat; while Olympic
silver medallist Jones needs a good finish to be in
Manchester on August 4.
Melbourne's Emma Carney, Sydney's Melissa Ashton
and Pip Taylor, and Queensland's Rebekah Keat and Josie
Loane have all also made TA's Eligibility Squad but are
relying on a win, and bad performances by the current
frontrunners, on Sunday to make the team.
Elite racing on the Easter Sunday gets underway
with the Accenture women's final showdown at 12 noon,
followed by the men at 2.15pm. Age groupers kick off early
with racing from 7am.
Fans can watch the world's best for FREE with the
Olympic distance course (1500m swim; 40km bike; and 10km
run) starting at Cunningham Pier, Eastern Beach and taking
in bike and run courses that capitalise on Geelong's
picturesque Esplanade which stretches along the waterfront
and Eastern Beach.
Lindquist's quest for the Accenture crown comes
with a trace of irony. The American admitted today, that
without the help of the Australians in training and racing,
she would not be in the position she is in.
"When I first came to Australia and raced - I
thought if you can't beat them, join them," said Lindquist,
who has made Australia her southern summer home for the past
few years.
Because I raced against the tough girls here, it
has made me a better and faster athlete to the point that I
now have the luxury of beating them."
She said Sunday's racing will be particularly
tough, with so much on the line for the Australians.
"The race tactics won't change, but the level of
play will be a lot higher with Games selection for the
Aussies. A lot of the women are peaking for this race."
Sydney's Michellie Jones, who was suffering from
the flu for the first selection race in Canberra, said she
is back to full fitness for the final Accenture race. She is
not yet ready to concede that the Accenture title race is
over. "The title race is not dead because anything can
happen. You still have to finish the race - and you can't
drop a race. You may be way, way out in front - but there is
always a chance that the unforeseeable will happen."
The Sydneysider also believes the race will be a
little harder to predict - with no one having raced over the
course before. "Geelong will be interesting because no one
has raced on the course and it will also be a little bit
different from Canberra, in the fact the water is more salty
and it could be a wet suit swim," said Jones who will also
race on the same course for the World Cup in Geelong on
April 14.
"I just want to be up front being the rabbit
rather than the chaser and get my Games spot"said Jones who
represented Australia back in l990 at Auckland's
Commonwealth Games,when tri was a demonstration event.
With $80,000 in prize money, a Hyundai Santa Fe
Car, contract spots for 2003 and 200 plus ITU points
(International Triathlon Union), the scene is set for some
exciting Easter racing.
Adding further spice to the women's showdown will
be the inclusion of international competitors American Laura
Reback, New Zealand's Heather Evans and Great Britain's
Catriona Morrison.
The racing is no less cut-throat in the men's
Accenture title race with Gold Coast's Courtney Atkinson
leading the way on 95 points, in front of Queensland
training partner Miles Stewart (87) and Kiwi Shane Reed
(72), third. Like the women, the men are racing for an
additional two Commonwealth Games, and four World
Championship team positions.
Easter Sunday Racing Schedule - FREE FOR ALL
SPECTATORS!!!!
Elite Age Group Racing - 7am
Accenture Women's Race - 12pm
Accenture Men's Race - 2.15pm
Race Course
Swim: 1.5km swim loop - Adjacent to Cunningham
Pier
Bike Leg: 40km - 6 laps of a 6.6km loop. From
Eastern Beach & Rippleside Park
Run Leg: 10km - 3 laps of a 3.3km loop. Between
Eastern and Western Beach. Easter Sunday
For further information contact Ingrid Roepers or
Sara Jane Morris of IRPR on
(02) 9360 1166/ 04 111 989 44.
'MANCHESTER GAMES ON HACKETT WISH LIST' -
THE SUN WEEKLY
Click
here
to view an article titled 'Manchester Games on Hackett wish
list' which was published in the Sun Weekly on Thursday
March 21st 2002
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Send your message of support to Nicole to be
published on the site.
Click here for more
details
If you have any questions,
ideas, anything. Just email
me
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