Aileen Morrison goes into Saturday’s Tongyeong ITU Triathlon World Cup ranked No1 in the women’s race. The small port city on the southern tip of the Korean peninsula plays host to the 7th stop of the 2011 World Cup series.
A second place in Ishigaki, Japan earlier this year along with a fourth place finish in Huatulco this past Sunday and a fourth place finish in the Yokohama round of the World Championship Series has boosted Morrison’s ranking enough to make her race favourite.
The conditions will once again be hot and humid and the bike course features two sizeable hills which must be tackled on each of the 5 laps. Morrison has been racing well in the heat over the past few weeks and after a strong cycling focus in training she has almost completely eliminated what used to be a weakness.
Recovery from last week’s effort will be the key to achieving a good result. “It’s been a long trip from Mexico where I was travelling since a few hours after the race finished.”
“It’s tough with just a 5 day turn around between races but as it’s my last of the season so I’ll just give it everything and see how I end up.”
There will be stiff competition from the likes of 2008 bronze medallist, Vendula Frintova of the Czech Republic and reigning Under23 World Champion Agnieszka Jerzyk of Poland along with some 40 other starters who are all scrambling for the remaining Olympic ranking points of 2011.
After Saturday morning race Morrison will enjoy a well earned break before the build up to London 2012.
Morrison recieves additional support for her performance programme through her Olympic Scholarship.
