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Sport student aims high at Noosa Tri
USC student Chloe Turner hopes to continue her fine form from last month’s ITU World Triathlon Championships when she competes in the Noosa Tri on Sunday.
The 19-year-old Sport and Exercise Science student was stoked when she finished second in her age and gender category over an Olympic distance at the world titles at the Gold Coast.
That silver medal means Chloe, who attended St John’s College at Nambour, can compete in the Open category at Noosa in her quest to qualify for an elite professional licence.
“I was equal first out of the swim on the Gold Coast and pretty happy with my performance overall,” she said.
“Someone handed me an Australian flag as I went across the finish line and that was awesome, waving it in front of big crowds of people from other countries. I passed the flag to another runner to keep up the spirit.”
Two other USC students, Brodie Gardner and Strachan Kerswill, were placegetters in their categories of the world event.
USC Sports Officer Rachel Dickinson said it was a great result for the University.
In the lead-up to Noosa, Chloe has been juggling her campus lectures and cafe work at Buderim with a training program set by the Sunshine Coast Tri Academy.
She said she was confident with her preparation for the high-profile race that has elite world stars, a long waiting list and is part of a five-day sports festival.
“I’m fitting everything in and my family is supportive,” she said. “I changed from competitive swimming to tri when I was 15 because my dad, Gary, is a triathlete. I love the variety – it’s better than just following the black line.”
Chloe said her favourite subject at USC was Coaching Science. “You get to do field work and you can relate what you learn to your own sport,’ she said.
The Noosa Triathlon Multi Sport Festival starts today (Wednesday 28 October) and finishes with the main event on Sunday 1 November.
– Julie Gatehouse