Docherty and Tanner on Podium at Oceania Triathlon Champs
New Zealand’s Bevan Docherty has finished third after a mass sprint finish at the Oceania Triathlon Championships while Debbie Tanner has also earned the final podium spot in a similarly tight finish to the women’s race in Geelong this afternoon..
MEN’S RACE SUMMARY
The Olympic men’s silver medalist was only just edged in a dramatic four way sprint to the tape by ITU world number one Brad Kahlefeldt and current Australian sprint champion Courtney Atkinson.
The Olympic distance race (1500m swim, 40km bike, 10km run) was fiercely competitive with the event counting for the Australian’s as their national championship and qualifying race for the World Championship in Hamburg later this year, not to mention the $60,000 prize pool up for grabs.
Given his recent heavy training workload and lack of taper for today’s race, Docherty was delighted with a podium finish.
“Clearly there was more on the line for the Aussies today and to be honest I just didn’t have it in me at the finish as I normally do for the big races but I am really pleased with the hit out,†said Docherty while waiting in the drug testing area.
“As far as a first race this is a good sign for me this season with some big races coming up later on so I am super happy with the start but that is all it is, no one is getting carried away. I positioned myself well off the start line and had a good swim which had me out of the water with the leaders. Unfortunately the bike course was open and exposed and the three packs quickly turned into one and then subsequently turned into a running race. And it was more like a Sunday run pace at times, cruising along but that is the nature of Olympic course racing, unless you want to hurt yourself and there are bigger days ahead this season to have done that today.â€Â
Docherty will now focus on defending his ITU World Cup title in Mooloolaba later this month.
Top of mind for the rest of the Kiwis was the lure of vital ITU points as athletes chase starts in ITU World Cup races later in the season and the chance to qualify for the World Championships and Beijing Olympic Games.
Next best of the Kiwi men was Shane Reed in 9th place. After a quiet season in 2006 Reed is looking to be nearing his best and like Docherty was far from peaking for today’s event with an eye on bigger races later in the season.
Of the other athletes James Elvery enjoyed an outstanding day, finishing third of the Kiwis in 12th place overall and third in the U23 category. Elvery went into the event as the 13th ranked New Zealander but is not competing for one of the six places available at the World Championships later this year, preferring another tilt at the U23 title in Hamburg.
While ‘stoked’ with his race, Elvery very nearly didn’t make it to the start line after a troubled build up.
“I was not all that confident going into the race today after some pretty bad preparation this week. I have struggled with asthma for the past couple of weeks and then crashed while out for a gentle pedal in the city centre yesterday. I burst a blood vessel in my foot but once I knew it was just swelling and there was nothing broken I knew I could get through the race. Mum is a nurse and when I spoke to her about it, she gave me the ‘harden up’ speech and told me to get out there!â€Â
“I enjoyed a great swim and bike and found myself running alongside Docherty and Kahledfeldt for 3 or 4km, it was a fantastic feeling to be in that sort of company so late in the race.â€Â
Elvery will now focus on the National Championship race in Wellington on March 31st where a top three finish in the U23 category will guarantee him selection in that race at the Hamburg World Championships later in the year.
Ben Pulham strengthened his grip on the 6th best Kiwi ITU ranking with his 14th place today, 4th best of the Kiwis. The 145 points will further assist Pulham in his race to earn a berth at the World Championships. Other contenders Nathan Richmond, Graham O’Grady, Sam Walker finished further down the field and failed to make any significant points gains.
Under 23 athlete Martin van Barneveld made a strong impression however, finishing 20th overall in one of his few starts in elite company.
WOMEN’S RACE SUMMARY
In the women’s race Debbie Tanner was edged in another close finish, with World U23 champion Erin Densham and 2005 World silver medalist Annabel Luxford making it an Australian one-two. Tanner had close Kiwi company though with Andrea Hewitt in fourth and Nicky Samuels completing a good day for the New Zealand contingent with an 8th place finish.
Second quickest runner at the World Championships last year, Tanner confirmed again her great running ability with another quick 10km split, her 35.07 was beaten only by Densham on the day.
The result was perhaps most significant for Samuels. The points earned will further boost her ITU ranking which stood at 43rd going into the race and cement her position as the fourth ranked Kiwi athlete (behind Sam Warriner, Tanner and Hewitt) with all important World Cup races to come later in the season. The result also confirms Samuels as a starter in the ITU World Cup round at Mooloolaba later this month.
Men’s Results
Oceania Triathlon Championships
Olympic distance
Geelong
1st Brad Kahledfeldt AUS 1.52.19
2nd Courtney Atkinson AUS 1.52.23
3rd Bevan Docherty NZL 1.52.25
Plus (all New Zealanders)
9th Shane Reed 1.53.45
12th James Elvery 1.54.03 (3rd U23)
14th Ben Pulham 1.54.23
18th Clark Ellice 1.54.53
20th Martin Van Barneveld 1.55.09 (5th U23)
22nd Blair Jordan 1.55.28
24th Sam Walker 1.55.33
26th Tony Dodds 1.55.39
27th Graham O’Grady 1.56.01
29th Nathan Richmond 1.56.06
35th Ben Visser 1.56.37
36th Hamish Johnson 1.56.45
44th Dylan McNeice 1.59.44
45th Will Curtayne 2.00.35
Women’s Results
Oceania Triathlon Championships
Olympic distance
Geelong
1st Erin Densham AUS 2.03.55
2nd Annabel Luxford AUS 2.04.20
3rd Debbie Tanner NZL 2.04.26
Plus (all New Zealanders)
4th Andrea Hewitt 2.04.57
8th Nicky Samuels 2.06.30
MEN’S RACE SUMMARY
The Olympic men’s silver medalist was only just edged in a dramatic four way sprint to the tape by ITU world number one Brad Kahlefeldt and current Australian sprint champion Courtney Atkinson.
The Olympic distance race (1500m swim, 40km bike, 10km run) was fiercely competitive with the event counting for the Australian’s as their national championship and qualifying race for the World Championship in Hamburg later this year, not to mention the $60,000 prize pool up for grabs.
Given his recent heavy training workload and lack of taper for today’s race, Docherty was delighted with a podium finish.
“Clearly there was more on the line for the Aussies today and to be honest I just didn’t have it in me at the finish as I normally do for the big races but I am really pleased with the hit out,†said Docherty while waiting in the drug testing area.
“As far as a first race this is a good sign for me this season with some big races coming up later on so I am super happy with the start but that is all it is, no one is getting carried away. I positioned myself well off the start line and had a good swim which had me out of the water with the leaders. Unfortunately the bike course was open and exposed and the three packs quickly turned into one and then subsequently turned into a running race. And it was more like a Sunday run pace at times, cruising along but that is the nature of Olympic course racing, unless you want to hurt yourself and there are bigger days ahead this season to have done that today.â€Â
Docherty will now focus on defending his ITU World Cup title in Mooloolaba later this month.
Top of mind for the rest of the Kiwis was the lure of vital ITU points as athletes chase starts in ITU World Cup races later in the season and the chance to qualify for the World Championships and Beijing Olympic Games.
Next best of the Kiwi men was Shane Reed in 9th place. After a quiet season in 2006 Reed is looking to be nearing his best and like Docherty was far from peaking for today’s event with an eye on bigger races later in the season.
Of the other athletes James Elvery enjoyed an outstanding day, finishing third of the Kiwis in 12th place overall and third in the U23 category. Elvery went into the event as the 13th ranked New Zealander but is not competing for one of the six places available at the World Championships later this year, preferring another tilt at the U23 title in Hamburg.
While ‘stoked’ with his race, Elvery very nearly didn’t make it to the start line after a troubled build up.
“I was not all that confident going into the race today after some pretty bad preparation this week. I have struggled with asthma for the past couple of weeks and then crashed while out for a gentle pedal in the city centre yesterday. I burst a blood vessel in my foot but once I knew it was just swelling and there was nothing broken I knew I could get through the race. Mum is a nurse and when I spoke to her about it, she gave me the ‘harden up’ speech and told me to get out there!â€Â
“I enjoyed a great swim and bike and found myself running alongside Docherty and Kahledfeldt for 3 or 4km, it was a fantastic feeling to be in that sort of company so late in the race.â€Â
Elvery will now focus on the National Championship race in Wellington on March 31st where a top three finish in the U23 category will guarantee him selection in that race at the Hamburg World Championships later in the year.
Ben Pulham strengthened his grip on the 6th best Kiwi ITU ranking with his 14th place today, 4th best of the Kiwis. The 145 points will further assist Pulham in his race to earn a berth at the World Championships. Other contenders Nathan Richmond, Graham O’Grady, Sam Walker finished further down the field and failed to make any significant points gains.
Under 23 athlete Martin van Barneveld made a strong impression however, finishing 20th overall in one of his few starts in elite company.
WOMEN’S RACE SUMMARY
In the women’s race Debbie Tanner was edged in another close finish, with World U23 champion Erin Densham and 2005 World silver medalist Annabel Luxford making it an Australian one-two. Tanner had close Kiwi company though with Andrea Hewitt in fourth and Nicky Samuels completing a good day for the New Zealand contingent with an 8th place finish.
Second quickest runner at the World Championships last year, Tanner confirmed again her great running ability with another quick 10km split, her 35.07 was beaten only by Densham on the day.
The result was perhaps most significant for Samuels. The points earned will further boost her ITU ranking which stood at 43rd going into the race and cement her position as the fourth ranked Kiwi athlete (behind Sam Warriner, Tanner and Hewitt) with all important World Cup races to come later in the season. The result also confirms Samuels as a starter in the ITU World Cup round at Mooloolaba later this month.
Men’s Results
Oceania Triathlon Championships
Olympic distance
Geelong
1st Brad Kahledfeldt AUS 1.52.19
2nd Courtney Atkinson AUS 1.52.23
3rd Bevan Docherty NZL 1.52.25
Plus (all New Zealanders)
9th Shane Reed 1.53.45
12th James Elvery 1.54.03 (3rd U23)
14th Ben Pulham 1.54.23
18th Clark Ellice 1.54.53
20th Martin Van Barneveld 1.55.09 (5th U23)
22nd Blair Jordan 1.55.28
24th Sam Walker 1.55.33
26th Tony Dodds 1.55.39
27th Graham O’Grady 1.56.01
29th Nathan Richmond 1.56.06
35th Ben Visser 1.56.37
36th Hamish Johnson 1.56.45
44th Dylan McNeice 1.59.44
45th Will Curtayne 2.00.35
Women’s Results
Oceania Triathlon Championships
Olympic distance
Geelong
1st Erin Densham AUS 2.03.55
2nd Annabel Luxford AUS 2.04.20
3rd Debbie Tanner NZL 2.04.26
Plus (all New Zealanders)
4th Andrea Hewitt 2.04.57
8th Nicky Samuels 2.06.30