WAIS athletes David Bryant and Sally Pilbeam claimed gold medals at the Paratriathlon Oceania Championships in Newcastle to put them both a step closer to qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games.
Bryant produced a strong performance to take out the men’s PTS5 category and claim the Oceania title in the progress. “Australia Day in the Australian tri suit, pretty big honour,” said Bryant. “The conditions today were not too dissimilar to Tokyo, very humid. Coming from Perth where it’s just always dry, it was a good hit-out.”
Competing in the PTS4 category Pilbeam was dominant to claim the title, over 12 minutes clear of her closest rival Sharon Dagg from New Zealand.
From here both Bryant and Pilbeam will contest the World Paratriathlon Series in Devonport, Tasmania at the end of February, with more Paralympic qualifying points on offer.
Photos: Con Chronis / Triathlon Australia
