DAVID Hunter’s dream to represent Australia has come true.
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Hunter is one of five Orange Cycle and Triathlon Club (OCTC) members who have qualified to represent Australia at the 2015 World Age Group Sprint Distance Championships.
Hunter will be joined by siblings Tristan and Stephanie Harrison, as well as husband and wife Tony and Danielle Syme in Chicago in September.
“It’s exciting. It’s in Chicago. It’s a chance to wear the green and gold,” Hunter explained.
He set the goal at the start of the 2014-15 season to qualify for the world event, and he’s looking forward to making his debut in green and gold.
Athletes had to compete at a number of events around Australia to earn points in order to qualify for the national team.
Hunter’s qualification is even more impressive as it was his first season back in the sport after a 10-year lay-off.
He moved to Orange with his family in July last year and immediately joined the Orange club.
“It’s been terrific,” Hunter said.
“It’s a very successful club.”
This will be Hunter’s first time at the world event, however the Harrisons and Symes have been before.
“I spoke to Tony about it on Sunday and he said it’s a great experience,” Hunter said.
“You do it a couple of days before the elite triathletes. That’s a drawcard that you get to race on the same course as the elite triathletes.”
The five qualifiers continues a purple patch for the Orange club.
Jess Richards and Kim Dale earlier this month qualified for the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii after outstanding results in Ironman Australia at Port Macquarie.
On top of this, 23 OCTC members will represent Australia at the 2015 World Age Group Duathlon Championships in Adelaide in October.
Hunter, 41, said his next step was to continue training through the winter.
He has qualified in the men’s 40-44 years age division, Tony is in the men’s 45-49 years category, Danielle is in the women’s 45-49 years division, Tristan will line up in the men’s 20-24 years competition, and Stephanie is in the women’s 16-19 years event.
The World Age Group Sprint Distance Championships will be held on September 18 in Chicago, USA.
