Hong Kong triathlon big guns condemned to nervous National Games selection wait
Wong Tsz-to and Bailee Brown seal spots at China National Triathlon Championships, but top trio fall short leaving fate in coach’s hands
One of Hong Kong’s best triathletes will not make the city’s squad for the National Games, and head coach Andrew Wright said they only had themselves to blame.
While Wong Tsz-to and Bailee Brown secured automatic qualification at this weekend’s China National Triathlon Championships, Jason Ng Tai-long, Oscar Coggins and Robin Elg all failed to meet the required standard.
That leaves Wright having to decide who to take in a six-strong squad of three men and three women for the competition in November.
In the women’s race in Xuzhou on Saturday, Brown finished fifth to claim her place in the squad, and while she, Cade Wright, Wong and Elg combined for second in Sunday’s relay, the head coach said that would not be good enough for a medal at the Games.
While no Hong Kong athlete achieved automatic individual Games qualification in the opening two selection races, in April and May, Wong ticked every box on Saturday.
He was the first Hongkonger across the line, his ninth position was inside the requisite top 20, and the 26-year-old’s time of one hour, 51 minutes and 29 seconds was within 5 per cent of winner Zhang Xiriu’s 1:46.49.