Warriner continues on winning ways

Kiwi and world number one triathlete with the ITU Sam Warriner has won her second 70.3 or Half Ironman event, taking out the Geelong 70.3 to go with her Port of Tauranga Half Ironman title earned in January.

In doing so Warriner also broke the course record by over 10 minutes, as she did in Tauranga when winning in early January to break a 13 year old record.

Warriner’s foray into the world of longer distance races continued in hot conditions in Geelong on Sunday but she showed no signs of fatigue or inability to cope with the longer racing, moving ahead of Hawaii Ironman runner up Yvonee Van Vlerken in the second transition and extending her lead throughout the 21km run.

Clearly Warriner’s ITU World Cup racing experience proved invaluable in making a quick transition from bike to run, leaving the transition area with a 90 metre lead that she extended throughout, leaving the worlds fastest woman (van Vlerken) over the Ironman distance almost a minute behind.

The win achieved Sam’s main goal on the day to qualify for the World 70.3 Championships in Floriday in November, allowing her the chance now to concentrate on her build up and racing schedule in the inaugural ITU World Championship Series events beginning in May in Singapore.

Snap Ironman 70.3 Geelong (Australia) 1.9km swim, 90km bike, 21km run

1. Samantha WARRINER 4:14:33

2. Yvonne VAN VLERKEN 4:15:25

3. Rebekah KEAT 4:17:35

4. Kelly JARRETT 4:21:57

5. Kate MAJOR 4:23:48