Club to train triathletes

By Marc McGowan
PROFESSIONAL triathlete Nick Conway is hoping to usher in the sport’s new stars with the forming of the Casey-Cardinia Triathlon Squad.
Conway, who is head coach and president of the club, chaired the squad’s inaugural meeting at Narre Warren’s Casey ARC last week and is excited about its possibilities.
“We had over 40 financial members (at the meeting) and there were over 70 people in the room,” the 24-year-old said last Friday.
“Since then we’ve signed another five members and we’re expecting another 10 on Sunday – it’s fantastic.”
Conway has several elite triathletes, including Australian representatives Geordie Fyfe and Graeme Hoskings, on his books.
Both will contest the Triathlon World Championships on the Gold Coast from 9 to 13 September.
Other athletes in the group include Victorian Institute of Sport under-20 development squad members Melanie Hunter and Mitch Lewis, as well as 19-year-old Levi Maxwell, who was runner-up in the Gatorade Triathlon Series in the under-20 age group.
Eleven-year-old up-and-comers Courtney Field and Luke Joiner, who have achieved success in multiple sports, and Beijing Olympian Coral Bentley are other notables.
But Conway was also keen to point out that he and fellow triathlete Luke Postlethwaite, who is vice-president and the specialist cycling coach, are promoting the club as being participation-focused.
“We want to provide experience for the youth of our area in a growing sport that develops health, confidence and persistence,” he said.
“This is about getting people into sport, especially youths, and dispelling the myths about triathlons that you have to be ridiculously fit to do them.
“We just want people to turn up and give it a shot. In training sessions, you only push yourself within your ability.”
The City of Casey and Cardinia Shire Councils have each given $500 to the new club and Conway is also applying for a $5000 Australian Sports Commission grant to help pay for coach education and for his elite athletes to compete.
Conway also praised his committee members, who he said were vital in establishing the club.
The club’s triathletes will train at several venues, including Casey ARC, Lysterfield Lake, Casey Fields and Pakenham Little Athletics Centre.
Conway, who is also a physical education teacher at Berwick’s Kambrya College, said most of his athletes would target the Shepparton Half Ironman or the Gatorade Triathlon Series in November.
“We’re a little different from a footy club, in that we don’t all go race at the same time,” he said.
“We just provide training to get everyone fit enough to go race.
“Everyone is welcome to do their own races, but we will be going down as a club to the Gatorade Triathlon Series – even if we’re not racing – to support the other club members.” Conway is also enthused about his own thriving career after earning his international professional licence last month.
“It’s going to be tough and I know I’m going to learn a lot – put it that way,” he said. “I’m not expecting any big podium, top-10 performances. If they come I’ll be over the moon, but the first few years are just a learning experience.
“Hopefully, when I’m in my mid-to-late 30s, that’s when I’ll be teaching the lessons to the 24-year-olds who are coming up just like I’m going to have to learn myself.”
Conway resumed from a two-week training break on Monday and his next race is in Texas on 28 June as part of the American Ironman 70.3 Series.