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Olympic Selection Success

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Non Standford is selected for Rio after an impressive 2nd place at the WTS Grand Final Chicago

Big congratulations to Welsh girl Non Stanford who secured automatic qualification for Rio 2016 at the recent ITU World Triathlon Grand Final in Chicago. She finished 2nd in a time of 1:56:05 (1500m swim, 40km bike and 10km run).
 
Non was born in Bridgend, lived in Swansea. Her sporting background was track running, competing in the Welsh Schools she was reigning 1,500m champion in ’02, ’03 and ’04.  She was chosen as a bright young running talent in 2004 when she was invited to join Kelly Holmes on the first ever 'On Camp with Kelly' at a camp in South Africa. She has been part of that set up every year since. In 2006 she finished 3rd in the 3000m (senior) at the AAA Indoor championships.  
 
Injuries on the track saw her take to the pool for rehabilitation this is when she turned her focus from track running to triathlon. She was soon training fulltime with the University of Birmingham triathlon team. She is now based in Leeds and is part of UK Sport Lottery Funded British Triathlon World Class Podium Squad. Her breakthrough year into the sport was in 2012 were she achieved senior gold in the ITU Triathlon Mixed Relay and U23 gold at the ITU World Championships. 
 
Helen Jenkins also had an excellent performance finishing 11th place in Chicago. Considering over the season Helen has been dealing with injuries.  She has the most consistent record for a female athlete in British Triathlon. She has achieved the most ITU World Triathlon Series podium finishes more than any other British woman and has won the ITU world title twice. She competed in the both 2008 and 2012 Olympics games. She finished 21st in 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and 5th in the 2012 London Olympic Games. Helen has yet to reach qualification for Rio 2016, her selection will be based on recent performances will be taken into consideration when final decision made in the spring next year.  Helen is a member of UK Sport Lottery funded British Triathlon World Class Squad based in Bridgend and coached by Marc Jenkins. 
 
Good luck to Helen on her pathway to qualification for Rio 2016. 
 
Follow Non on Twitter @nonstanford
Follow Helen on Twitter @heljinx
 
by Zoe Holloway
 

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