TRIATHLETE Jacqui Slack is preparing for the biggest race of her career.

The 26-year-old Newcastle firefighter is one of only five British athletes in the March 28 event on Australia's sunshine coast.

The World Cup race consists of a 1.5km ocean swim, a 40km coastal cycle race and a 10km run.

Slack, from Bradeley, has been given a one-year sabbatical by the Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service to focus on her training.

That has allowed her to move to Australia for four months to prepare for the event in Mooloolaba.

Slack competed in her first triathlon in 2003 and since then the 5ft 2in dynamo has been competing against some of the best triathletes in the world in the European Cup and the French and British Triathlon Grand Prix series.

That had meant balancing up to 25 hours of training a week with her full-time job.

She said: "Since moving to Australia, I've been training with some world-class athletes which has been brilliant for my development.

"This race kicks off the elite triathlon season and so there is going to be some really tough competition.

"This race is a World Cup. Before now, I've only competed in European Cups, so this is a big step up for me.

"It really is going to be the biggest race I have ever competed in, but I'm up for the challenge.

"I couldn't have got to this point though without my sponsors, Internet Central, and the support I've been given from Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service.

"Before now, I've had to fit training around a full-time job. This year is giving me the opportunity to reach my peak and prove myself as a professional athlete."

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