Just eight days before his 20th birthday, Turner received a much sought-after ‘Golden Ticket’ on home soil, having done enough to finish as one of the top five qualifiers across two days of triathlon alongside the world’s best.
Turner was the third best qualifier in Saturday’s Triple Mix on the Waterfront, despite being eliminated at the first stage in 19th overall, and he ended yesterday’s Enduro – three consecutive swim-bike-runs – ranked fifth out of the nine novice contenders.
‘This is the highlight of my career so far, 100 per cent,’ said the 2018 Commonwealth Games athlete.
‘It’s is a breakthrough race for me and it’s such a great feeling. I’m on a high right now.
‘This feeling makes everything worthwhile. The early mornings, the long hours in the rain in the winter – this is the reason I do it.
‘It’s back to university for me now and back to the pool and the track to get the hours in. And we go again in four weeks time.’
The Jerseyman – offered entry into Super League Jersey following the cancellation of a qualifying event in Canada – will now travel to Malta and Mallorca this side of Christmas, before being flown to Singapore for the 2018/19 series finale. The Golden Ticket offers him equal rights on the start-line, alongside the likes of world champion Mario Mola and Olympic medallists Jonny Brownlee and Henri Schoeman.
