JADE JONES-HALL will take her first steps on the road to the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo this weekend when she competes as part of the British team at the ITU World Paratriathlon Series in Montreal.

The Middlesbrough wheelchair racer began her career as a road and track athlete, but made a successful switch to paratriathlons last summer.

Her first major competition could hardly have gone better as she won a gold medal in the Commonwealth Games on Australia’s Gold Coast, and she has opted to stick with her new sport in an attempt to qualify for next year’s Paralympics.

Four years ago, in Rio, she competed in the athletics programme, and if she makes it to Tokyo in the paratriathlon, she will join a select group of British athletes who have represented their country on the Paralympic stage in two different sports.

A nine-strong British squad will be competing in the World Paratriathlon Series event in Montreal, aiming to secure the first stage of Tokyo 2020 nominations.

Jones-Hall is the only British female competing in the PTWC (Paratriathlon Wheelchair) category, although Joe Townsend will be lining up in the male equivalent event.

Mike Cavendish, British Triathlon National Performance Director, said: “It’s an important event for the paratriathletes as it’s the first WPTS race of the qualification process for Tokyo 2020.

“There will be strong competition across all the classes in Montreal, and it won’t be easy, but having spent the week with the team at their camp in Florida, I know they’re all in a good place and are confident ahead of their races.”

Paralympic silver medallist Lauren Steadman (PTS5) makes her return to international competition for her first start of 2019, and will come up against team-mate Claire Cashmore (PTS5) who won silver at the World Paratriathlon Series in Yokohama.

“I’ve had an amazing experience over the past few months, but I’m really looking forward to getting back into competing,” said Steadman. “I can’t wait to get back on the start line in Montreal. As my first race back, I know that it will be a competitive one but I’ve prepared well so we’ll see what happens on the day.”

Alison Peasgood, who won silver in the PTVI category at the Paralympic Games in Rio, has already shown her strength through 2019 with gold at the ITU World Paratriathlon Series in Milan.

National champion Dave Ellis will be looking to back up his performance from the Milan ITU World Paratriathlon Series where he took the top step of the podium.

The four athletes competing in the ITU World Triathlon Series includesdouble gold medallist Georgia Taylor-Brown, who returns to action hungry to continue her form from Leeds and Nottingham.

Taylor-Brown will be joined by Jess Learmonth, who is currently second in the World Triathlon Series standings.