New Zealand’s internal battle lines might define the narrative but they won’t decide the races at Sunday’s Oceania Triathlon Sprint Championships. Or matter a jot in Monday’s Mixed Relay.
Team Australia arrive in Napier sans a plethora of big names – Hauser, Willian, Copeland, McClusky, Jeffcoat – but with ample form, depth and, crucially, zero interest in the Kiwi selection subplots playing out around them ahead of LA ‘28. They’ll race what’s in front of them. And they’ll expect to win, in trademark Aussie fashion.
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And then there’s the Canadian threat, which cannot be understated.
WOMEN: The Benchmark – Ridenour
Desirae Ridenour (pictured) is the benchmark for the 23-strong Elite/U23 women’s race.
The Canadian won World Cup Napier last year and returned to Mount Maunganui in December to dominate Triathlon Tauranga’s post-Christmas Surf Breaker, finishing nearly three minutes clear of Ainsley Thorpe. That alone makes her the one to beat.
But it’s not just local form. Ridenour has shown she can mix it at the highest level, highlighted by her breakout 8th at WTCS Weihai last September. She showed her run ability in China, going out hard to lead the first km ahead of Beth Potter and Lisa Tertsch who eventually finished one and two.
Ridenour had earlier produced solid French Grand Prix form, claimed silver European Cup Holton and won a pair of Americas Triathlon Cup events – in Montreal and Kelowna – to go with her Napier win.
For all the focus on New Zealand’s quartet of Nicole van der Kaay, Thorpe, Eva Goodisson and Brea Roderick, Ridenour sits outside that narrative, making her singularly dangerous. If she arrives at T2 in the front group, her run will be difficult to contain
Australian Depth
Team AUS bring numbers and momentum.
Charlotte Derbyshire will take confidence from her maiden World Cup podium in Tongyeong to close out 2025, and this field presents an opportunity to build on that breakthrough.
Richelle Hill is arguably the headline act. The reigning U23 world champion from Wollongong has already shown her class in Napier with 8th at last year’s World Cup and shapes as one of the most complete athletes in the field. If she is in position late, she is a genuine winning threat.
Then there’s Aspen Anderson. Sunday will be her first race out of the junior ranks as she emerges from a injury impacted 2025. A 16:15 5km last week underlines her run pedigree. If she can stay connected to the front pack, she becomes a serious factor.
Oceania Sprint Championship start lists
Elite Women
U23 Women
MEN: Aussie Young Guns and an Unknown Canadian
Lachlan Jones arrives with momentum after a strong Oceania season last year, including bronze at the Standard Distance continental championships in Devonport and silver at the Super Sprint on the Gold Coast. Now based at Ascent Academy under Non Stanford and Daniel Unger, he brings both structure and confidence.
The Schofield brothers, Luke and Jayden, are always dangerous over the sprint distance — experienced, confident, capable of inserting themselves at any point in the race. Remember, Luke won the Oceania Super Sprint title at Runaway Bay with Jayden 10th.
Then come the U23s.
Jack Crome is likely to at least partly control the early dynamics as one of the strongest swimmers in the field. If he stretches the race from the front, the day changes quickly for those chasing.
Oscar Wootton steps up after a 9th-place finish at the Junior World Championships in Wollongong. This is his first outing at U23 level, but his trajectory over the past 12 months suggests he won’t be overawed.
A darkhorse in the elite men’s field is Daniel Damien. The Canadian was 17th at the U23 World Triathlon Finals in Wollongong last October but little else is known about him other than his 11th at World Cup Huatulco last June and a smattering of top 10s at Americas Triathlon Conti Cup level. But given Ridenour’s performance at World Cup Napier last year, no one should take the youngster for granted.
Oceania Sprint Championship start lists
Elite Men
U23 Men
