TOP juniors from Trowbridge’s Hot Chilli Triathlon Club have qualified for the National Triathlon Elite Super Series held at Loughbourgh University this weekend.

In his second season as a junior, Freddie Webb began last Saturday’s trials with a personal best swim in the pool, giving him the best possible chance of qualification in the bike/run race the following day, where starts were handicapped based on swim times.

Webb pushed really hard during the bike leg and with a sharp transition, headed out onto the run stage in first.

Racing against some of the best young athletes in the country and more experienced runners, he performed superbly to finish eighth overall, with South West team-mate Will Crudgington just behind in 10th.

In the junior girls age group, Caitlin Wosika, in her first major national event, again started the trials with an outstanding swim PB.

She then managed to get into one of the leading bike groups before Wosika’s strong cross country and track run background paid dividends on the run as she finished 19th against a very experienced field to qualify from the Elite selection.

Harry Webb, again in his first national competition in his debut year, raced in the Youth age group and followed his Chilli colleagues’ example, recording a PB for his swim. Heading out onto the bike course on his own, meant a really tough ride but Webb kept his focus and put in a strong finish to his run to come home 40th.

Head coach Richard Smith said: “All of our junior athletes have been working really hard over the winter months on both their skills and fitness.

“This weekend’s performances by some of our older members is testament to their hard efforts and the quality of the training and coaching they have engaged in.

“As a relative small triathlon club with a junior section only six months old, to have three athletes qualify and represent the club in the National Elite Series is a fantastic achievement and we are all delighted for Caitlin, Freddie and Harry.”