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Docherty and Tanner Take Out New Zealand Sprint Distance Championships

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Top New Zealand triathletes Bevan Docherty and Debbie Tanner have today [4 February 2007] taken out the New Zealand Elite Sprint Distance Championships at Kinloch.

In the men’s race, Docherty finished the 750m swim in second place, and raced neck and neck with Kris Gemmell on the 20 km cycle leg, before pulling away on the 5km run.

29 year-old Docherty went on to finish the race in 59.44, just 17 seconds ahead of Gemmell, who completed the race in 1.00.01. Graham O’Grady of Hamilton finished third in 1.01.26.

Docherty said he was feeling good in his second race of the Contact Energy National Series.

“I had a good swim today and Kris and I worked well together during the cycle, but I was able to get ahead during the run,” Docherty said.

In the women’s race, 24 year-old Debbie Tanner was a clear winner, finishing the sprint distance race in 1.07.35.

First out of the water, Tanner pulled away during the cycle, gaining a one minute lead on her rivals. Tanner increased her lead during the run, crossing the finish line almost three minutes ahead of second place-getter, Auckland’s Anna Hamilton.

Finishing the race in 1.10.24, Hamilton also took out the women’s Under-23 Sprint Distance Championship title.

Former World Champion Rebecca Spence [Auckland] was the third woman home in 1.12.23, and took out the Under-19 Sprint Distance Championship title.

Tanner said it was a challenging but enjoyable race, and she was pleased to come in first.

“It’s totally different from an Olympic distance race,” Tanner said.

“It’s hard to step down to a sprint distance race after competing in endurance events and it was a really testing course.”

The Under-19 men’s National Championship title was taken out by Christchurch’s Ben Hoetjes, and the Under-23 title by Auckland’s James Upton.

In the Age Group Sprint Distance Championship race, Auckland’s Tristan Calwell came in first in the men’s field with a time of 57.58.

His second win in the Contact Energy National Series, Calwell maintains his first place ranking on the series’ points table.

Andrew Young [Wellington] finished less than one minute behind Calwell with a time of 58.42, while Stephen Sheldrake [Gisborne], finished third in 58.59.

In the women’s field, Christchurch’s Gina Ferguson achieved her fourth win of the series, finishing the race in 1.02.48, almost five minutes ahead of her nearest opponent.

After today’s win and her first place finishes at the New Plymouth, Nelson and Rotorua Contact Energy National Series races, Ferguson has a clear lead on series points table.

Bridget Fry [Wellington], finished second with a time of 1.07.38, while Anne-Marie Madden [Nelson] came in third in 1.08.01.

The next race in the Contact Energy National Series will take place in Napier on 17 February 2007.

ENDS

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