Duer and London Olympic triathletes lead early charge!
The Sydney:10 will feature some of the best runners in the country as they battle it out for the National Road Running Title for 2014. While every runner in the 10km can say they contested the ‘National Titles’ only three men and three women will take home the booty, that is a national medal.
Leading the charge still 5 weeks from the event is Victorian Duer Yoa who hails from Ballarat but whose family roots are from Sudan. Duer has an impressive list of achievements to his 24 years which includes representing Australia at international level three times. His first team was the 2008 World Cross Country Championships and signified the first time in any sport that a Sudanese athlete would represent Australia.
Duer enjoys running and mixing it up with the best in the hub of distance running which is Ballarat.
“I love racing and have missed out on much of the track season due to injury. I was running a lot of km, around 180km per week in preparation for a marathon this March but I developed and injury late last year” Duer explains.
“My coach (Rod Griffen from Ballarat) and I have modified the training and the Sydney:10 will be a great opportunity to run fast, I am really looking forward to it” he continued.
Duer will be matched by equally talented distance athletes from all around Australia including South Australia’s best distance runner Jacob Cocks and his brother Riley. Meanwhile in the women’s events it is the triathletes that have committed early.
Olympians Emma Jackson from Queensland and American Gwen Jorgensen will race off fresh legs around the streets of Sydney as they look to rekindle the rivalry that had them finishing 8th and 6th respectively in the London Olympic Triathlon. Both athletes have been in heavy training over the Australian Summer and will be looking for a solid performance before commencing a series of international triathlons over the Northern hemisphere summer.
“It is perfect timing for a 10k road hit out” said Emma Jackson, “I ran the Queensland track 10000m championships recently but blew up a little in the second half of the race, I would love to run in the 33 minute range at the Sydney:10” she continued.
Meanwhile American Gwen Jorgensen has been training with the NSWIS triathlon squad based in Wollongong and boasts a 10km personal best of under 33 minutes. Spectators and competitors alike will be treated to fast and competitive women’s race as Gwen and Emma take on the best distance runners in the county on the multi lap Sydney:10 course.
For more details and to enter head to www.sydney10.com.au
To read more about Emma Jackson visit her website at www.emmajackson.net.au
To read more about Gwen visit her website at www.gwenjorgensen.com
Duer doesn’t have a website but his profile is below;
Duer Yoa
DOB: 26/12/89
Lives: Ballarat
Club: Eureka Athletic Club
Personal Bests:
1500 3.51 | 3000 8.07.10 | 5000 13.51 | 10000 29.06 | 15000 45.10 | ½ Marathon 65.35
Achievements:
- Current Victorian 5km title holder
- 2012 won Victorian ½ Marathon title
- 2008 Represented Australia World Cross Country U20 Edinburgh 1st Sudanese athlete in any sport to represent Australia
- 2010 World Cross Country Open Poland
- 2013 Chiba Ekiden Japan
