It is a
city and a course that have become synonymous with the sport, and Yokohama
hosts its 12th year of top-tier Para Triathlon racing on Saturday morning, with
the athletes chasing everything from WTPS medals to Paralympic points to the
form that could see them ultimately triumph in Paris.
After the
season opener at WTPS Devonport back in March and last month’s Para Cup
Yenesihir, the Paris 2024 Qualification Period continues apace as attentions
shift to Japan, where a 750m harbour swim, 20km bike through the city streets
and 5km run to the tape awaits. Don’t forget you can watch the action live and
on-demand over on TriathlonLive.tv.
In the
men’s PTWC category, Japan’s Jumpei Kimura H1 will want to seize the
opportunity of a home race to give his ranking a boost. Currently 14th in the
standings, passing the likes of Jose Cristobal Ramos Jimenez H1 and Ahmed
Andaloussi H1, themselves on the edge of the qualification cut-off, will be a
major target. Defending World Champion Geert Schipper H2 (NED) and Louis Noel
H2 of France will also be eyeing the medals.
On the
women’s side, Lauren Parker H1 and Kendall Gretsch H2 rekindle a rivalry that
has seen them take the lion’s share of recent World and Paralympic titles,
Brazil’s Jessica Ferreira H1 continues her bid to get as close to them as
possible after bronzes both here and in the World Championships behind them in
2023.
The men’s
PTS2 race has Australian duo Thomas Goodman and Glen Jarvis chasing the Paris
2024 qualification points, USA’s Mark Barr and Geoffrey Wersy of France the men
to beat. Silver medallist in 2021 Yukako Hata is the home favourite, but the
formidable Hailey Danz (USA) and Veronica Yoko Plebani (ITA) stand in her way
along with WTPS Devonport champion Anu Francis (AUS).
With the
women’s PTS3 classing up at Paris 2024 to race in the PTS4, newcomer Rachel
Watts (USA) will look to follow up on her continental silver in Miami with a
good performance. Justin Godfrey (AUS) and Michael Herter will be able to
consolidate their Paris places, while Korea’s Hwang Tae Kim needs a result to
climb from 13th into the qualification reckoning.
Alexis
Hanquinquant continues to plot his route to a defence of his Tokyo 2020 title
with what would be a sixth straight win in Yokohama, USA’s rising star Carson Clough in hot
pursuit of the French maestro along with Australia’s Jeremy Peacock and home
favourite Hideki Uda.
With
their start places assured, top-ranked PTS5 athletes Stefan Daniel (CAN), Chris
Hammer (USA) and Jack Howell (AUS) all race for their pre-Paris form while Tom
Williamson (IRL) and Keiichi Sato (JPN) need a strong showing to boost their
chances of a Paralympic start.
Britain’s
2021 PTS5 World Champion and Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist Claire Cashmore can
expect a stern challenge from Gwladys Lemoussu and Kamylle Frenette of Canada
while Monika Belczewska (POL) and Laura-Liis Juursalu (EST) will be hoping to
climb the rankings with a strong showing here.
Tokyo
2020 Paralympic Champion Susana Rodriguez B1 goes for a sixth Yokohama win,
this time with Sara Perez Sala as her guide for the first time with a plan for
Paris afoot. Italy’s reigning World Champion Francesca Tarantello B3 also goes
out in search of Paralympic form, while Brazil’s Leticia Freitas B1 and Judith
MacCombe B3 hope to establish themselves firmly in the qualification safety
zone.
GB’s
men’s World Champion Dave Ellis B3 will be aiming to build towards that as-yet
elusive Paralympic gold with his first Yokohama action since winning here in
2018. The US Continental Champion Owen Cravens B3 and runner up Kyle Coon B1
both race and Australia’s Oceania champion Sam Harding B3 will want to put his
qualification beyond any doubt on his WTPS Yokohama debut.
