Teen 'stoked' at selection for world champs
BY MURRAY HILLS
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He's only 15, but he will be competing against the world's best 16 to 19-year-old triathletes in Budapest in September.
New Plymouth's Ryan Dingle was last week named in the New Zealand team to compete over the sprint distance at the world championships from September 8 to 12.
The Spotswood College Year 11 student turns 16 on November 18, with the age cutoff for the championships being December 31.
The sprint championships involve a 750m swim, a 20km cycle and a 5km run.
"Stoked" was Dingle's reaction to his selection.
"I'm really happy. I just want to work hard and do the best I can. I've only been doing triathlons for a couple of years," he said.
"I tried the Weetbix tryathlon and enjoyed it, so just carried on. I look up to all the elite Kiwi triathletes, they make it look so easy."
Now Dingle is into the sport fulltime, training most days as well as studying and fitting in an hour's cleaning at Spotswood College after each school day.
"I really enjoy swimming and usually get to the pool four or five times a week. I train with the Icebergs at the Aquatic Centre from 5.30am to 7.30am ... four to five kilometres each time."
The early starts mean he gets his bike out and pedals down or, if he's lucky, Dad (Ross) drives him down.
"I usually run two or three times a week with Dad. We usually run anywhere between six and 10km."
His bike rides are usually with family friend Pat Leary and his daughter, Jess, a Sacred Heart Girls' College Year 10 student who is also involved in triathlons. Helping out on the coaching side of things is New Plymouth's Graham Park.
New Zealand selection, however, comes with a price tag. He has to find between $5000 and $7500 to pay his way to Budapest.
Four other Taranaki triathletes have been selected in the age-group sprint distance teams for Budapest – Oakura's Emma Wilson (women's 16-19 years), New Plymouth's Joy Baker (women's 55-59 years), New Plymouth's Shorty Clark (men's 55-59 years) and New Plymouth's John Eagles (men's 60-64 years).
- © Fairfax NZ News
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