Eva Goodisson and Saxon Morgan will see New Zealand start with both top seeds in Sunday’s Oceania Triathlon Cup at Broadwater, the first of a pivotal Gold Coast double-header that will send Tri NZ’s top swim, bike and run talent on their annual migration to Europe.

Gold Coast-based world No. 39 Goodisson tops the 34-strong women’s field and will enjoy racing on now familiar “home” roads after her Kiwi-best fifth at the Oceania Sprint Championships in Napier on March 1.

Morgan, meanwhile, is the men’s top seed in a field of 70 and arrives in the best early-season form of his career — silver in Napier as part of a Kiwi podium sweep with Hayden Wilde and Henry McMecking, backed up by 5th at the Oceania (Standard Distance) Championships in Devonport a fortnight later despite a calf niggle.

Modest World Triathlon ranking points are on offer at Broadwater, the currency that secures starts at World Cup and WTCS events with an eye to the Olympic qualification window opening at WTCS Yokohama on May 18.

Women’s top seeds

  1. Eva Goodisson (NZL)
  2. Sophie Malowiecki (AUS)
  3. Rochelle Hill (AUS)
  4. Brea Roderick (NZL)
  5. Amara Rae (NZL)
  6. Phoebe Carter (NZL)

Men’s top seeds

  1. Saxon Morgan (NZL)
  2. Luke Schofield (AUS)
  3. Bradley Course (AUS)
  4. Jayden Schofield (AUS)
  5. Rory Thornhill (AUS)
  6. Joel Lange (NZL)

The Runaway Bay factor

Sunday’s sprint, part of the mass participation Gold Coast / Luke Harrop Memorial, is also a hit-out for many leading into the Oceania Super Sprint Championships at nearby Runaway Bay.

There Tokyo Olympian Tayler Reid is due to make his first start of 2026 after recovering from a rib injury, and will be joined by partner Nicole van der Kaay who is fresh from her 4th on T100 debut on the Gold Coast. McMecking is also holding back for Runaway Bay.

Most of the 22-strong Kiwi contingent are racing both weekends. For the U23 and U19 athletes in the group, Broadwater means an open elite field test this weekend to sharpen themselves before contesting their own age specific categories at the Oceania Super Sprint Championships next week.

Runaway Bay is also a key trial event for the upcoming World Series Mixed Relays in Europe, adding further weight to performances at the continental champs.

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