The Paris Paralympic qualification period came to a close with one final opportunity for athletes to secure a slot at the 2024 World Triathlon Para Series Montreal Canada.
Team Ireland were strongly represented by Tom Williamson competing in the PTS5 category, Donnacha McCarthy and guide Sean Husband in the PTVI men’s race and Chloe MacCombe and guide Catherine Sands in the PTVI womens category. This was the last chance for athletes to gain points for the Paris Paralympic Games and as a result we saw the World’s top athletes from across the globe making the journey to race. The race saw world class performances across all tha categories.
Chloe MacCombe and Catherine Sands continued their consistent form crossing the line in third. This is Chloe’s third World Triathlon Para Series podium of 2024, leaving Chloe and Catherine ranked 3rd in the Paralympic Rankings at the end of the qualification period.
In the PTS5 men’s category Tom Williamson demonstrated his continued improvement racing internationally and once again delivered a dominant swim, exiting the water with a 47 second lead. Tom worked hard to keep in touch with the front of the race, with the World ranked number one and three athletes chasing hard after the swim. Williamson crossed the line in fifth position, securing his highest placing at a World Triathlon Para series race. The placing clearly demonstrated his improvement racing internationally against world leading athletes.
Donnacha McCarthy and Sean Husband produced a strong swim to exit the water in fourth, however after receiving a penalty on the bike segment, subsequently did not go on to finish the race.
The Men’s PTS5 Paris Paralympic Games qualification rankings remain largely unchanged after the weekend’s race in Montreal, with Tom Williamson currently in 11th position while in the Men’s PTVI Donnacha McCarthy and his guide Sean Husband remain in joint 12th position.
Credit: Triathlon Ireland
