3 News: Javier Gomez back for Auckland triathlon defence

Spain’s Javier Gomez will return to defend his title at the triathlon world series race on the Auckland waterfront this month.

Gomez and Gwen Jorgensen, who were the world series men’s and women’s champions last year, will head powerful fields for the event on March 29. The top five men’s athletes on the world rankings will all contest the Olympic distance race, the second leg of the series following the opening round in Abu Dhabi this weekend. No.1 Gomez will line up against, in ranking order, Spain’s Mario Mola, British brothers Jonathan and Alistair Brownlee and Portugal’s Joao Pereira.

Leading Kiwi men Ryan Sissons and Tony Dodds will look to make a strong start to their campaigns in front of home support. Sissons posted one of his best results last year in Auckland when he placed sixth while Dodds was seventh in 2013.

Women’s No.1 Jorgensen will be challenged by US compatriot and second-ranked Sarah True while Kiwis Andrea Hewitt and Nicky Samuels are the next-highest ranked women.
Auckland women’s defending champion, the fourth-ranked Jodie Stimpson of Great Britain, is contesting the sprint distance race in Abu Dhabi but hasn’t entered the New Zealand round.

The 10-round world series will conclude with the world championships in Chicago in September.

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