Mark Wilgar and Ellen Fraser will represent Australia at the ITU World Triathlon Championship in New Zealand later this month. Picture: David Sickerdick
COMPETING against the world’s best athletes in one of the toughest sports is no sweat for Mark Wilgar and Ellen Fraser.
The Sunraysia pair will compete in the ITU World Triathlon Championship in Auckland, New Zealand, on October 21, and will swim, ride and run against some of the fittest people on the planet.
Wilgar will participate in his third championship, while Fraser, who turns 17 on Thursday, will compete in her first.
Wilgar, organiser behind local events the Mallee 12 Fun Run and Very Funky Ladies Aquathon, said the pair’s preparation had been solid leading into the gruelling event.
“It’s a long and grinding day so you have to build confidence in your body,” he said.
“We’ve worked pretty consistently to consolidate that fitness base and being able to go smoothly in and out of transitions.
“Our preparation has been a really solid 10 weeks of training leading into race day.”
With such a plethora of talented athletes converging on the ‘Land of the Long White Cloud’, Wilgar said it was near impossible to assess where the Mildura duo would rank among their competitors.
“You can’t really go in expecting a particular placing,” he said.
For more of this story, purchase your copy of Tuesday's Sunraysia Daily 9-10-2012.