World champs beckon for local triathlete

Triathlete Ryan Marfell is on a roll in 2023.

Taller, stronger, fitter and much-improved in the water this year, a couple of stunning results nationally have earned the Marlborough Boys’ College Year 13 student a trip to Germany. He will travel to Hamburg in July as part of the New Zealand team to compete at the World Triathlon Age Group Champs, an opportunity he describes as the “undoubted high point” of his five-year multisport journey. Ryan produced a couple of standout performances in late March, which earned him national selection. Firstly, he travelled north to the Taranaki Tri Festival in New Plymouth, winning the under-19 age group and placing fifth overall.

“[The result] was a bit of a surprise,” said Ryan. “I came out of the water good and caught up with the chase pack on the bike. I got on the back and just rode with them until the run. We all ended up together, but they just had a stronger run than me … I was happy with fifth overall though, especially since I was up against much-older and more experienced triathletes.”

Just four days later, he was back in the South Island, racing at the finish.

“I was happy with that,” he said, “although I definitely wouldn’t have minded a longer break and a bit more energy.”

Earlier in the season Ryan had put his name forward for possible selection to the NZ team at the World Champs and his podium placings saw him selected, an email from Triathlon NZ arriving soon after the Wanaka event.

“I was excited, ecstatic, stoked,” he said. “It has always been my dream to represent New Zealand at the world champs. Especially at this event, which is classed as one of the world’s biggest triathlon races.” go to a world champs.”

Ryan previously pulled on the black tri suit at the Oceania champs in Taupo but described the impending world champs was “next level”.

The world championship course comprises a 750m swim, 20km bike leg and 5km run, distances Ryan is familiar with and looking forward to testing himself over, especially as he has made big improvements in a discipline he had previously struggled in.

“My swimming has been my weak point … I used to come in around the middle or further back in the pack and then I would have to work my way through the field on the bike and run them down.

To that end he is training hard, especially on swimming and running, the two disciplines he says “you can’t hide on”.

Currently he is completing nine lengthy training sessions per week, three on each discipline, with a view to producing his best in Hamburg.

“My goal would be to try and make top 20,” he said, “but it all depends who shows up on the day. We are not sure what is going to happen … but it is a chance to gain some valuable experience and show Tri NZ what I am capable of,” he added.