NZ off the pace at Triathlon Team World Championships

Team Triathlon racing made an exciting and adrenaline fueled debut at ITU World Championship level at Des Moines, Iowa, today but it was to prove a disappointing day for the favourites, an injury and illness affected New Zealand included.

Switzerland surprised all with a superb victory, showing the benefit of experience in European Club racing where team relays are reasonably common place. The Swiss edged hot favourites Australia with Canada in third and the New Zealand teams 6th and 9th overall.

Andrea Hewitt showed her fighting qualities and experience in this type of team racing in Europe by leading home current world number one Emma Moffatt (AUS) in the first leg, producing a sprint finish to give Kris Gemmell a one second lead.

Gemmell struggled to find any spark in his legs though after yesterday’s ITU World Cup exertions, with Courtney Atkinson (AUS) and Brent McMahon (CAN) nudging ahead by the second changeover.

For the New Zealanders it was the turn of Sam Warriner. However the Whangarei athlete was clearly still struggling with the after effects of the bike crash she suffered just over a fortnight ago and slowly lost touch with the leaders as New Zealand slipped down the field to sixth with Bevan Docherty tagged to bring them home.

Meanwhile the second New Zealand team was performing well, with Kate McIlroy, Clark Ellice and Rebecca Spence putting them in 7th place at the final changeover, as Ryan Sissons was tagged just seconds after Bevan Docherty.

Docherty, like Warriner before him, was not at his best following an illness that has seen him withdraw from the Washington World Champs race a week ago, as well as yesterday’s Des Moines World Cup. Try as he might, Docherty could make little impression on the teams in front of him, eventually coming home 6th with Sissons bringing the young number two team home in 9th.

Triathlon New Zealand National Coach Greg Fraine said timing had not been kind to New Zealand in an event he had targeted a medal in.

“The gods have not smiled on us today but we remain hugely positive about this format of racing, it has the potential to suit us and provide more opportunities at world and hopefully Olympic level.

“Our issue was one of timing. Sam’s crash and Bevan’s illness have obviously come at the wrong time, in both cases you feel for the individual athletes at such an important time of their seasons but today it was all about the team. In this type of racing if you aren’t 100% you are going to be off the pace, it was relentless all race and seconds at crucial moments can make or break your chances.

“Knowing her fighting qualities and class when at her best we took a punt on Sam today and hindsight might suggest that didn’t pay off. She put in a gutsy performance though and gave her all today but clearly was not 100%.

“But I think Team Racing is an exciting addition to the sport and one that will go from strength to strength. The key for the ITU now will be to provide further opportunities for athletes to gain experience and if at all possible, dedicated team racing events when athletes are fresh.

“This was not just about the number one team though, we saw a fantastic effort from the second team, each of whom raced well in top class company. Kate McIlroy once again stepped up to lead the team away well, as she has all weekend. It was a very solid effort from a young team.”

ITU Team World Championship
250m swim, 7km bike, 1.8km run
1 SWITZERLAND TEAM I 1:20:56
2 AUSTRALIA TEAM I 1:21:05
3 CANADA TEAM I 1:21:31
4 USA TEAM I 1:21:53
5 CANADA TEAM II 1:22:31
6 NEW ZEALAND TEAM I 1:23:03 Hewitt, Gemmell, Warriner, Docherty
7 RUSSIA TEAM I 1:23:37
8 UKRAINE TEAM I 1:23:43
9 NEW ZEALAND TEAM II 1:24:07 McIlroy, Ellice, Spence, Sissons
10 JAPAN TEAM I 1:24:38