Hawke’s Bay Triathlete Leads Team to World Champs

Media Release

Hawke’s Bay Triathlete Leads Team to World Champs

Leading Hawke’s Bay triathlete Fred Koenders finds it special to wear the silver fern – but on his current trip to China it will be in a different role.

EIT’s Dean of Commerce and Technology is taking time off from managing his large faculty to co-lead a Triathlon New Zealand team to the World Long Course Triathlon Champs in Weihai, China.

The triathletes will compete over the 4km swim, 120km bike and 20km run distance.

Having competed over the Olympic distance at the 2011 World Championships in Beijing, Fred has first-hand experience of sports events in the China environment. He also works on Chinese university relationships for EIT.

Triathlon New Zealand selected him to jointly lead a team to Weihai because of his combined triathlon leadership and governance and China experience.

The New Zealand team travelling to the coastal city in eastern Shandong province will include Tri Hawke’s Bay athlete Emma Mackie, who will be competing in the 25-29 age group.

Fred has been involved in triathlon for 25 years and this is his first foray into team management. That doesn’t mean he won’t continue to compete at a high level in his sport.

“I am expanding my involvement in triathlon,” he says, “to include participation in this voluntary management role.”

Fred and co-manager Jeff McGrath of Taranaki left with the team on Saturday, 13 September. New Zealand will be represented by 37 triathletes as they compete against the world’s best on Sunday, 21 September.

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