World Triathlon Para Series heads to Yokohama for second stop of season as Paris 2024 Paralympic Qualification period continues

 

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.