The World Cross Country Championships took place this week in Bathurst, Australia. We have previously recounted how a number of elite triathletes have competed internationally in athletics or cross country as Juniors and this year was no different.
Rubbing shoulders with some of the best runners in the world were two young triathletes.
Aspen Anderson (2006) of Australia and Marika Couture (2004) of Canada took part in the women’s U20 race. Anderson finished 35th while Couture wound up in 38th place.
Anderson has a 5000m PB of 16:45.25 to her name, a time that compares favourably with some of the performances of other elite triathletes as Juniors. By way of example, the 2021 World Junior champion Jule Behrens (2003) logged a 16:32.74 the year she won her world title.
On the triathlon front, Anderson has a 6th place finish from last year at the Oceania Junior Cup in Devonport to her name. That currently stands as her only international appearance, although that is none too surprising given her age.
Meanwhile, Couture finished 13th at the European Junior Cup in Banyoles in 2021. The winner that day was the reigning World Junior champion Tilda Månsson.
In less than three weeks, Couture is due to start at the North American Junior Championships in Sarasota, USA. With her running evidently in good shape, it will be interesting to see how Couture fares.
