Europe Triathlon

In our final season review of 2011 we look at the European Junior Women.

Across 15 European events there were no fewer than 13 different winners in the Female Juniors category. An incredible set of results which highlights the depth of talent emerging from the female pool or up and coming triathletes.

This competitive nature is highlighted in the 2011 Rankings; less than 100 points separate the top three; less than 200 points separate the top five.

Only Eszter Pap (HUN) - pictured above - and Monika Orazem (SLO) managed to win more than two races but it was Pap who finished on top of the rankings for 2011.Third place went to Croatia’s Sara Vilic.

Pap started 2011 with a bang with the first European Cup victory of her career in Vienna. She ended the year with victory in Bled and also finished 9th in the Elite race in Eilat European Cup.

Sandwiched in-between these performances was a bronze medal at the European Junior Championships.

Vice President of the Hungarian Triathlon Federation. Peter Kropko, hailed the news, saying: “Eszter is from a Triathlon family; her Mother is a trainer and her brother (David) is a good triathlete too.

“She is mentally, and physically strong, a hard worker and with a vision to win. It’s difficult to conquer her, or brake her mentally during a race or training. Watch out for her.”

Orazem (pictured above) began 2011 in dynamic form with 5th place at the European Duathlon Championships in Limerick followed by back to back Junior European Cup victories in Brno and Tournai.

She was runner up in Tabor and Tiszaujvaros and ended the year with a 13th place finish at the World Championships in Beijing.

Sara Vilic again showed early season promise with three top two finishes (including one victory) at Brno, Vienna and Tabor. She also finished 7th at the European Championships in Pontevedra.

Like Pap, she made the step up to come Elite competitions, finishing 26th at Tiszaujvaros and 12th at the World Championships in Beijing.

She also showed her versatility as an athlete by competing at the Sprint and Team World Championships in Lausanne and winning the Aquathlon World Championships.

Vilic (pictured above) said: “It feels really good to be near the top of the European Junior list. It makes me quite proud and it shows me that the hard work is worth it. It is also an additional motivation for the upcoming season. 

“My triathlon year was more or less perfect. I managed to achieve most of the goals I set for this season and I have made a pretty big step from last season.

“But that’s just a start and now I have to practice and improve even more. Last year I couldn’t imagine running as I do now and that’s thanks to my new coach who has really worked with me to improve my run. I’ve never had big problems with my swim as I have been a swimmer for a long time, but in triathlon races I would lose everything I had gained on the swim in the run. Now that has changed, finally.

“In 2012, one of my goals is to prove myself on a Dextro series race. To see where I really am when racing with the “big ones” and what I’m actually worth.”

For full details of the Junior Women European Rankings click here.