Emma-Moffatt-Geelong

Emma Moffatt will compete in the Australian Sprint Distance Championships in Geelong on 12 March for what will be the first stop for many athletes with their sights set on this year’s 2012 London Olympic Games.

The Olympic bronze medallist will be joined by fellow Beijing Olympian and 2007 winner Erin Densham, training partner Ashleigh Gentle, a host of young Australians including former World Championship open water swimmer Danielle de Francesco and a strong international contingent in the 32-strong field.
 
Emma Moffatt is certainly no stranger to the popular Geelong Sprint Distance course, a 750 metre swim; 20 kilometre bike and five kilometre run, having won the title twice before.
 
The two-time world champion from 2009 and 2010 showed all her class to scamper away on the final lap of the run to beat Canada’s Kirsten Sweetland and fellow Australian Emma Jackson in last year’s race.
 
“Geelong is always a great way to start the competitive season, with a little sprint distance race and I’ll only travel down on Saturday, race Sunday and get back to training on Monday,' said Moffatt, who admitted she was pleased to put an indifferent 2011 behind her.

'My major races will come at the ITU World Cup in Mooloolaba (24 March) and the ITU World Championship Series race in Sydney (14 April).'

 Other Australian youngsters to watch on Sunday (12 March) will include 2004 Olympian Maxine Seear, 2011 ITU World Championship team members Tamsyn Moana-Veale and Natalie Van Coevorden while second round winner of the National Junior Series in Canberra last weekend, Ellie Salthouse remains in doubt with injury.

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Photo credit: Eyes Wide Open Images